Page 28 of Family Ties and Alibis

“I think I should go with you.”

“Why?” Elvira stopped what she was doing, eyeing her sister suspiciously.

“Because you need supervision.”

“It’s not necessary. I’ll only expand the search if I find a reasonable cause.”

“That does it. I’m going.” Dernice ran to her bedroom to grab her keys and caught up with Elvira in the alley.

Taking the side streets, they arrived at Parrot House Restaurant in no time.

Elvira hopped out and scurried to the van’s sliding door. She slid it open and began removing the equipment.

Dernice exited the passenger side and stood watching her.

“Don’t just stand there. If you’re gonna spy on me, you might as well give me a hand.”

“Whatever.” Her sister grabbed an armload of gear and trudged over to the dig site, still marked with yellow caution tape.

It took several trips before Elvira had everything she claimed she needed. Humming under her breath, she placed the tools on the ground in an orderly fashion.

Dernice, figuring the dig might take a while, plopped down under a shade tree to wait.

“I’m not a fan of having an audience.”

“Pretend I’m not here.”

“Easier said than done.” The amateur archaeologist babbled under her breath and shimmied into the hole.

Chip. Chip. Tunk.

The chipping and “tunking” went on for what seemed like forever.

Dernice yawned loudly. “How’s it going?” she hollered.

“Slow.”

She almost offered to help and then thought better of it. This was all on Elvira. Her dig. Her explanation if she “inadvertently” chose to excavate beyond her designated parameters.

The chipping and tunking continued at a steady pace. Without warning, it sped up.

Curious to find out what was happening, Dernice slowly rose to her feet and shuffled over. She found her sister working on a section facing the river, pickax in hand. “In case you’re interested, you’re on hour number two.”

Her sister ignored the comment, laser-focused on the spot she was excavating.

Dernice dropped to her knees and studied the hole. “I’ve never seen someone so obsessed with dirt.”

Again, no response.

“Are you okay?” She inched closer to the hole and leaned in.

Elvira flung the axe aside and began digging with her hands. “Finally.”

“You found something?”

Clawing frantically, Elvira scraped at the gravel. “Hand me the small spade.”

Dernice handed it to her, watching as her sister wedged it into the dirt. A small, round object fell to the ground.