Forbidden City

The sheriff hesitated for a moment, as if flipping a mental coin. “We located it outside of Sacramento. It had been abandoned.”

“Do you think the men left California?”

Barfield’s eyes were steady. “You know more about them than I do, Miss Creed. Do you think they left California?”

“I don’t know.”

Taking out a small notebook, Barfield glanced through pages of notes written in a clear, concise hand. “I talked with a New York Police Department detective named McGilley. He said he looked into Huangfu Cao for you.”

“He did.”

“McGilley also says he told you he thought you should stay away from Huangfu because he couldn’t find out much information about him.”

“I’m an archaeologist, Sheriff. Sometimes I don’t get to pick and choose who I deal with. Archaeologists have been dealing with grave robbers since the field of study began.”

“Is that what you think Huangfu went there to do? To rob a grave?”

“I don’t know. Right after we found the remains of the miners, we were held at gunpoint by those three men.”

“Do you think he’s a criminal?”

“Based on the skill and lack of qualms he showed in killing those men—and while trying to kill me— I’d have to think that, wouldn’t I?”

“Are you in the habit of dealing with criminals, Miss Creed?” Barfield’s voice was low and neutral.

“Not if I know they’re criminals. I didn’t know Huangfu was a criminal until he killed those three men. And tried to kill me.”

“What did he want?”

“He wanted to find his ancestor’s grave.”

“To rob it?”

“He said it was so he could take the bones home to be interred in a family graveyard.”

“That didn’t strike you as odd?”

“Different cultures practice different beliefs, Sheriff. I’ve got friends in New York who believe that everyone in California is involved in some kind of environmental protection group or practice strange religion.”

A faint grin tweaked Barfield’s lips. “Do you help people find their lost ancestors very often?”

“No.”

“But you did this time. Why?”

“Because of the story involved.” That was partially the truth.

“What story?”

“Ghost towns are always interesting.”

Barfield rubbed his chin. “Volcanoville isn’t really known as a ghost town in the area. It’s just another failed gold mining operation.”

“One person’s failed gold mining operation is another person’s ghost town.” Annja glanced pointedly at her watch. It was 2:18 a.m. With the three-hour time zone deficit, she was running on fumes.

“Did you know you were going to find Huangfu’s ancestor?”

“If he was out here, I was going to try.”

“What do you mean ‘if’?”

Annja folded her arms and regarded the sheriff. “Stories don’t always have truth in them. Huangfu had the diary of a family member that said Ban Zexu was murdered in Volcanoville.”

The sheriff made notes and asked how to spell Ban Zexu’s name. “Did you see the book?”

“I saw copies of the book.”

“The book could have been faked.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know, Miss Creed. I’m still trying to figure out why three men are dead tonight.”

“They’re dead because they tried to kill us.”

“Why would they do that?”

“Because they were high and paranoid about us stumbling across their marijuana crop.”

“Is that your professional opinion?”

“That they were high?”

“Yes.” Annja started to grow more irritated. She’d known she was going to face repeated and redundant questions, but this was stretching her patience beyond the breaking point.

“I’ve seen people under the influence of drugs before, Sheriff. I don’t need a medical degree to know what it looks like.”

“Where did you get experience like that?”

“I travel frequently. Some of the cultures I’ve been involved with in my field of study use drugs regularly in religious ceremonies.”

The sheriff flipped another couple of pages. “Do you ever do drugs yourself?”

Irritation turned to anger. “Frankly, that’s none of your business, Sheriff. But the answer is no.”

Annja stood. “This interview is over. I’ve been patient and I’ve been considerate, especially in light of the fact that I very nearly ended up dead myself.”

“I’ve got three murders that I have to explain.” Barfield stared hard at her. “You can’t just walk out of here.”