AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m Chinese American.”
“And?”
“I’m of the belief that artifacts should be repatriated no matter what country they’re from.”
His manner was frank and his body language relaxed. His dark eyes never left hers. It was unusual for a Chinese to be so insinuatingly direct.
“Mr. Quon—”
“Dr. Quon,” he corrected.
“Dr. Quon, are you an archaeologist?”
“Do I look like one?”
Of course he didn’t. That was why she’d asked. He was completely unlike any of the others she’d spoken to this morning,
and she included Stuart Miller in that assessment. Michael Quon wore slacks, which had kept their creases even in the heat and humidity. The top two buttons of his silk shirt were unbuttoned, and she could see his pulse throb in the hollow of his neck. None of those stiff hiking boots for him. Instead he wore soft leather shoes. His fingernails were clean and trimmed. His hands were smooth and callus free. And, she realized, not only did he acquiesce to her scrutiny but he seemed to savor it. No, he wasn’t like the others at all.
“I have an interest in archaeology,” he said at last, “but I’m not one by training.”
“Then what is your field?”
He considered the question. “I guess you could say my specialty is mathematics.”
“If that’s so, then why are you here?”
“It is so, and I’m here because the reservoir will begin filling next year. I wanted to see this while I could—”
Hulan interrupted him, hoping to disrupt his rhythm. “Let’s get back to what happened to Miss Sinclair. Where is your room in relation to hers?”
“I’m in the fourth courtyard, the same as you and your husband,” he responded.
“Did you hear anything last night?”
“Just the rain.”
That was all David and Hulan had heard too.
“And you were in your room—”
“Until this morning, yes.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“How well did you know Brian McCarthy?”
“I met him last year when I came through. We did some caving together.”
“Caving?”
“Spelunking, if you prefer. We explored caves.” He hesitated, then said, “When I arrived this year, he was already missing.” He rose. “If there’s any other way I can help….”
“That’s everything for now….”
“But?”
