The Clovis Dig by Teri Fink

Author:Teri Fink
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: literary fiction, native american, american indian, archaeology, cultural fiction, cultural heritage, washington state
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Published: 2021-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Spencer, Claire, and Joe met in front of Claire’s house for the long drive to Olympia and the dinner at the governor’s mansion.

Spencer showed up in a black dinner jacket, trousers, a black bow tie and cummerbund, and black-laced oxfords—all retrieved from his last trip home to Philadelphia.

Joe’s life path had not yet taken him into the foray of black-tie affairs, so he scavenged together some black slacks and a light gray shirt, but necessity forced the purchase of a jacket and a classic gray tie. Luckily, he still had the black, leather lace-up shoes he had bought for graduation and used for job interviews.

Claire had been forced to go shopping at the local fancy shop, Webb’s. The sales ladies talked her into a teal cocktail dress made of satin, with short sleeves (they gushed over her sculpted arms), a modestly scooped neckline, and gathered at the waist. It fell slightly below the knee, which consequently forced the purchase of gray pumps. What choice did she have? Wear her rubber boots? The ladies had oohed and awed enough to make Claire feel semi-confident, but when she walked out of the house in the harsh noon sunlight, she simply felt ridiculous.

Joe volunteered to drive Spencer’s rented Buick, and Claire rode shotgun while Spencer sat in the back and buried his nose in journal articles written by officers of the regional archaeology society, prepping to meet the authors at the Governor’s mansion. Joe concentrated on driving, and Claire shifted in her seat nervously, dreading an evening full of politicians and stuffed shirts in a grandiose setting.

Eventually, their route left rural Washington for the big city. Traffic thickened accordingly, and by the time they pulled onto Interstate 5 it was bumper-to-bumper traffic. Even so, they made it to Olympia early. Joe suggested they drive around a bit and see the sights. Spencer grunted and continued reading.

“Why not?” Claire said.

Joe drove to the Capitol and pulled the Buick into the circular drive in front of the domed building and gardens of red roses and rhododendrons.

The Temple of Justice building was across the street, and a few men and women in suits, carrying briefcases glanced at watches as they poured out of the front door and descended wide, marble steps.

Joe stopped the car and Claire noticed him staring hard. She followed his gaze and saw a woman and two men talking. The woman was hard to miss—tall, raven-black hair, dressed in a form-fitting jacket and skirt. The two men with her, they looked like Native Americans, were dressed in dark, expensive-looking suits.

When the trio reached the bottom of the steps one of the men waved and walked away. The woman and man turned the other direction, moving along the sidewalk a few steps, then stopped and turned toward each other. The woman reached up and straightened his tie, then leaned forward and kissed him. The man’s free arm circled her narrow waist, pulling her to him. The man kissed her back, hand sliding down from her waist, resting on the curve of her buttocks.

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