Dust to Dust by Beverly Connor

faster? Son, at my age, I’m happy just to go at all. You know, you haven’t analyzed your target audience in forming your assumptions and questions. You’re targeting a different age group from mine.”
    “Did you and Dr. Payden have a lot of arguments?” Hanks asked.
    Diane had a desire to pound on the window again. These are trick questions , she wanted to shout.
    “A lot of arguments? As in getting mad at each other? No.”
    “What if I told you I had witnesses who heard you and Dr. Payden arguing heatedly just two days ago?”
    Diane watched Jonas raise his bushy eyebrows and frown. “Then I would say you had a witness who couldn’t tell the difference between spirited scholarly discourse and arguing,” said Jonas.
    “Is that what you call it, ‘spirited scholarly discourse’?” asked Hanks.
    “Yes,” said Jonas.
    “What did Dr. Payden call it?”
    “Marcella called it spirited scholarly intercourse,” said Jonas.
    Diane smiled.
    “Intercourse?” said Hanks.
    “Yes. Communication between individuals, organizations, or nations,” said Jonas. “You’ll find it’s the first definition in the dictionary. It’s kind of overshadowed by the second definition. Marcella likes the surprise aspect of using the first definition.”
    “I see,” said Hanks. “What was the argument about?”
    “Let’s see. I believe the topic of discourse was the definition of archaeology and how it relates to the proper subject matter of archaeology,” said Jonas.
    “That seems pretty basic. Are you telling me you couldn’t even agree on a definition of your own subject matter?” said Hanks.
    “It’s an academic thing,” said Jonas.
    Diane could see he was getting annoyed with Hanks.
    “It’s a common issue with all us archaeologists, one that will never be resolved because we will never completely agree. However, if you think this or any discussion I’ve had with Dr. Payden in any way would drive me to attack her, you’re just being plain silly. Marcella loves academic discussions of all kinds.” Jonas looked at his watch. “I’ll have to leave soon to pick up her daughter at the airport. She and her husband are flying in from Arizona today.”
    “Do you know who might have done this to her?” asked Hanks.
    “No. Marcella is a nice person whom everyone likes. I can’t imagine anyone doing this to her.”
    “There is a large hutch in her living room. Do you know what was in it?” asked Hanks.
    “Several pieces of pottery,” said Jonas.
    “Indian pottery?” asked Hanks.
    “Hanks didn’t go into the house,” said Diane. “How does he know about the hutch?”
    “He said he was going to call David Goldstein to see what kind of things your crew found,” said Garnett. “I’m sure he called before he began the interview.”
    Diane wondered why Hanks hadn’t called her, but she didn’t say anything.
    “. . . pottery she made herself,” Jonas was saying. “It does look very much like pottery from archaeological digs. She experimented with various clays and tempering material. She always signed it to be sure no one ever acquired one of her pots and tried to pawn it off as an authentic prehistoric artifact.”
    “Did she have any valuable artifacts in the house?” asked Hanks.
    “Valuable to archaeologists as objects of study. She had a few vessels, but as to monetary value . . . to tell you the truth, I really don’t know what the market is for stolen artifacts.”
    “There’s a desk in the living room that had been emptied. Do you know what was in it?”
    “Nothing. She found the desk in one of the sheds out back of her house and was going to refinish it,” said Jonas.
    “You said that when you found her she spoke,” said Hanks. He looked down at his notes. “I believe you said she said, ‘Tiger after all loose moment.’ Is that right?”
    “Yes,” said Jonas. “That’s what it sounded like she said.”
    “Do you know what that means?” asked Hanks.
    Jonas shook his head.