Barbara Silkstone - Wendy Darlin 04 - Miami Mummies by Barbara Silkstone

Author:Barbara Silkstone [Silkstone, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery: Cozy - Comedy - Real Estate Agent - Miami
Publisher: Barbara Silkstone
Published: 2014-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

We arrived at the San Sebastian forensic lab, which was on the edge of the Everglades miles past Florida City, at ten-twenty. An eight-foot chain-link fence topped with wicked razor wire protected a group of one-story industrial buildings. A middle-aged tubbo in a pseudo-cop uniform sat in a camo-green guard booth. He peered at us over a copy of Guns and Ammo. He checked Roger’s ID and directed us to a bunker with an Authorized Personnel Only sign.

Roger’s jaw tightened as he opened the unlocked door. He cursed under his breath. “Some security.”

The cinderblock building had a corrugated metal roof and steel doors. A mild hurricane would chew it up and spit it out. A paper sign taped to the wall above a vacant reception desk bore the image of an arrow pointing to the left. We trotted down a corridor carpeted in indoor-outdoor flooring that probably held more forensic samples than the safekeeping rooms.

We walked up on a skinny Pee Wee Herman look-alike. I didn’t know lab coats were available in plaid. He was engrossed in a video on an iPad. Roger cleared his throat. The tech jumped a foot in the air. His horn-rimmed glasses fell to his chin and he flipped the iPad face down.

He almost poked his eye out trying to get his glasses back onto his nose with super-shaky hands. “Can… can… I… I… help you?”

Roger flashed his International Archaeological Society ID card. “I’m Dr. Roger Jolley, here to examine the mummies. And this is my associate Ms. Darlin.”

“Of course, Dr. Jolley. My name is Igor. Let me check the list of authorized personnel.”

A lab assistant named Igor? Really?

Igor lifted a clipboard from a hook on the wall. He examined the top page then pressed the clamp and about twenty sheets slipped out and scattered on the floor.

Roger pointed with the toe of his brown wingtip. “There’s my name.”

Igor pushed his glasses higher on his nose and peered at the mess on the floor. “Are you sure?”

Roger crossed his arms. “Of course I’m sure. Now take us to the mummies.”

Igor bent over and squinted at the nearest page. He shrugged and motioned to follow him.

He led us down a corridor. We passed a large observation window cut into the wall of a dark room. He pointed at the glass. “The mummies are in here. The door is around the corner.” He turned down a smaller corridor, stopped in front of the first door, and pulled a fifty-pound key ring off his belt. He unlocked the door and flipped on blindingly bright lights.

Roger gave Igor a hard stare. He gulped and said, “I’ll leave you to your examination. I have to check on some cultures in the lab next door. Just don’t tamper with the glass cases.”

Roger gave him an even harder look. Igor’s glasses slid down to the end of his nose. “Let me know when you’re finished so I can lock up.” He backed out, closing the door behind him.

The room smelled like antiseptic, disinfectant, formaldehyde, and bad news.

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