Birthright

tucked between the bodies. I need photos of the bones, in situ.”
    “I’ll get Dory. You need a break.”
    “Not yet. Get the documentation. Then I want to find out what this is.”
    She moved back, stretching her legs as best she could while Dory came over to take the photographs.
    She let her mind go blank while Dory’s voice and Jake’s hummed behind her. They’d gotten into an easy patter already, she noted. Then, annoyed with herself for the knee-jerk resentment, the old habit, she reminded herself he could have an easy patter—or anything else he wanted—with Dory or anyone else.
    “Got it,” Dory declared. “Not to put down the rest of the dig, but you’ve got the best spot. It’s just fascinating.” Sheglanced down at the skeletons again. “And sad. Even ancient remains are sad when they’re a baby’s.”
    “So we’ll do right by them. I’m going to want those pictures as soon as possible.”
    “You’ll get them. In fact, that does this roll. I can go get them developed now if you want.”
    “Great.”
    As Dory hurried off, Callie knelt down again and began the painstaking task of excavating the carapace. As she carefully lifted it free, she heard the rattle of stones inside.
    “It’s a toy,” she murmured. “They wanted her to have a toy.” Callie sat back on her heels.
    Jake took the rattle. “It’s likely her father or her grandfather made this for her before she was born. Her birth was anticipated, looked forward to. And her loss, their loss, was mourned.”
    She picked up her clipboard, carefully logged the find. “I’ll tell Leo they’re ready for the wet packs and removal. I’ve got an appointment. I’ll be back in an hour.”
    “Babe.” He tapped his knuckles on her cheek. “You’re filthy.”
    “I’ll clean up a little.”
    “Before you do, I came over to tell you Leo just got off the phone with Dolan. Dolan’s threatening to go after an injunction to block us from removing anything from the site.”
    “He’s going to look like an idiot.”
    “Maybe, or if he’s smart he can spin it so he’s against disturbing the graves of the dead and so on. He can get some backing on that.”
    “Then how does he plan to build houses?” she inquired.
    “Good question, and I’d say he’s working on it.” He rocked back on his heels, skimmed his gaze over the quiet water of the pond, the thick summer green of the trees. “It’s a hell of a nice spot.”
    “I imagine the people buried here thought so, too.”
    “Yeah, I bet they did.” Absently, he shook the rattle again. “The main thing is he wants the dig stopped. He owns the land. He can block us from removing artifacts if he pushes hard enough.”
    “Then we push back, harder.”
    “We’re going to try reason and diplomacy first. I’ve got an appointment with him tomorrow.”
    “You? Why you?”
    “Because I’m less likely to take a swing at him than you are. Slightly,” Jake added as he leaned over to touch his lips to hers. “And because I’m the anthro and can spout more nifty terms on culture and ancient societies and their impact on science than you.”
    “That’s bullshit,” she muttered as she started toward her car. “You’ve got the penis. Leo figures this guy will relate to you better because you’ve got the right equipment.”
    “That’s a factor. We’ll have a little man-to-man and see if I can convince him.”
    “Work him, Graystone, so I don’t have to beat him over the head with a shovel.”
    “I’ll see what I can do. Dunbrook?” he added as she pulled open her car door. “Wash your face.”

Nine
    W hen Callie stepped out of her motel room the following morning, she saw red.
    Crude, vicious graffiti crawled over her Rover, bumper to bumper, in paint as bright and glossy as fresh blood.
    DOCTOR BITCH ! it announced. Along with GRAVE ROBBING CUNT , assorted obscenities, suggestions and demands that she GO HOME !
    Her first leap was forward, the way a mother might leap to defend a child being bullied in a playground. Unintelligible sounds strangled in her throat as her fingers raced over the shiny letters. With dull disbelief, she traced the splatters on her hood that spelled out LESBO FREAK .
    Fury was only a quick step away from shock. As they collided inside her, she stormed back inside her room, grabbed the phone book and looked up the address of Dolan and Sons.
    She slammed the door again just as Jake opened his. “How many more times do you plan to slam the