Read Earthcrack: A Lin Hanna Mystery for Free Online

crackled, “ The medical examiner
just arrived; he is on his way in.”
    Looking back up the canyon, Lin saw Dr.
Smith walking in with a man she assumed was the examiner.     She noticed that Smith was
somewhat nervously pulling on the brim of his cap.   She could not hear what he was saying
but he appeared shaken up to her.   Well, they were all shaken up—who wouldn’t be.   It was not every day that one found
human remains while hunting for artifacts, at least not her every day!
    With the help of the deputies and
Danielle, the medical examiner soon had another climbing rope rigged and
another arrangement that could be used as a sling to hoist the remains.   He and one of the deputies descended
carefully into the crack and then called for their camera and other equipment
to be sent down.
    Lin could only hear the low sound of
their voices as they proceeded with their work, she could not really tell what
they were saying.   It seemed to take
a long time but they had to be careful.   She wondered whom the person could be, maybe a hiker who had fallen
in?   She hadn’t really heard anyone
in the park talking about a missing person, though she knew people could
certainly access the area without coming to the visitor center and signing
in.   In that case no one would know
about the entry.   Still, it seemed,
if anyone in the area were missing, someone would have reported it. Her
curiosity was certainly aroused.
    After what seemed like a long time, Lin
saw the medical examiner’s equipment being lifted up and heard someone call for
the sling.     She was both
concerned and curious as the body bag containing the remains was slowly hoisted
up and placed on the side of the opening.   A smaller bag followed shortly and was handed to an officer for
safekeeping. What had they found, Lin wondered.
      The deputy and the medical examiner
followed shortly.   The deputy
instructed the officer holding the bag to take it to the car but didn’t
indicate what it contained.
    Approaching the body bag, the examiner
unzipped it and opened a flap on one side.   Lin couldn’t really see much but recognized some clothing—jeans, a
plaid shirt, boots, a wide belt.   The rest was hidden somewhat from her view.
    “Does anyone here recognize who this
might be?”   The deputy asked,
looking around at those gathered nearby.   “ These remains have been here for some time, it appears; someone might
recognize the clothing—anything to help us ID this person.”
      Neal Smith approached the remains
cautiously, Lin noticed a quick, jerking movement, his hand briefly coming up
to his face, as he viewed the remains.    He shook his head as if to
indicate he did not recognize this person and then moved away.   There was an unmistakable look of shock
on his face.   This had to be an
awful sight.
      Lin had no desire to look at the remains
herself and drew back to the edge of the group.   After all, she had only arrived in the
area a couple of weeks earlier. It was not likely this would be anyone she had
had the opportunity to meet.
    Danielle was thoughtful as she approached
the remains, studying what she saw.   Finally, she spoke, “I can’t be certain, but it seems to me that I have
seen that belt buckle on someone coming to the park before. It was not recently
and I can’t recall who it was.   It
is distinctive though.   I’ll speak
to some of the other personnel about it.   They may remember something and if we can help with an id I’ll give you
a call.”
    The deputy and the examiner nodded their
thanks and closed the bag.   They
began the task of closing off the area with crime scene tape.
    “Do they think a crime was committed?”   Lin asked Danielle.
    “Not really,” Danielle responded. “It
looks like someone fell and hit their head on a large rock.   They found a rock that might have dried
blood on it.   They’re taking it in
to check.    It looks more like
an accident than anything else but they