Manhunt On Mystic Mesa. Cindi Myers

archaeological dig where she worked is very close to here,” Jana said. “Did you know anyone else from there?”

      The women exchanged glances. “We didn’t know anyone,” the oldest of the trio, with white-blond hair and pale eyes said.

      “But you know something about them you’re not telling me,” Jana said. She hadn’t missed the significance of the look between them.

      “We visited them a few times,” the pretty blonde said. “They showed us some of the pottery shards and other artifacts they found.”

      “Who showed you?” Jana asked.

      “Not your sister,” the brown-haired woman said. “We never talked to her.”

      Jana slumped, trying to hide her disappointment.

      “We saw her, though,” the older woman said. “She was with that reporter.”

      “Eric?” Jana asked.

      “Yeah. That one.” The brown-haired woman’s sour expression left little doubt of her opinion of Eric Patterson. “They were arguing. Pretty loudly, too.”

      “What were they arguing about?” Jana asked.

      The pretty blonde shook her head. “We couldn’t tell, but she was pretty upset. At one point she shoved him.”

      “What did he do?” Jana asked.

      “Nothing,” the blonde said. “He was pretty calm about the whole thing, but she was really worked up.”

      “Did you overhear anything at all?” Jana asked. “Could you guess what she was upset about?”

      All three women shook their heads. “They were standing too far away,” the older woman said.

      “I saw her one other time,” the brown-haired woman said. “I went by myself a few weeks ago to try to sell some stuff I had found to the head guy.”

      “What kind of stuff?” Jana asked.

      “Some arrowheads and spear points, but he said the items I had weren’t worth anything. A woman who looked a lot like the picture you showed us was with him when I got there. They looked pretty friendly.” She smirked.

      “What do you mean, ‘friendly’?” Jana asked.

      “They were kissing,” the brown-haired woman said. “Going at it pretty hot and heavy, too,” she said. “When I showed up they broke it off and the girl hurried away.”

      “But I’m sure Professor Eddleston is married,” Jana said, trying to absorb this new information.

      “He was wearing a ring,” the brown-haired woman said. “So maybe instead of thinking the Prophet had anything to do with your sister’s disappearance, you should check out her professor’s wife.”