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Tuesday, 4:00 p.m.
- Michigan State University Press
- Chapter
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153 clarke tentatively asked her another question that inadvertently set her off: “What makes you think they all did it?” “Because, young man, they are all idiots! they are jealous, sad, pathetic ugly people. they want what roxanne and tony have.” after she left, monique wiped her sweaty forehead with a Kleenex. “Good Lord. What a woman.” “Yeah.” clarke watched Dr. Brazzi maneuver her way through the desks to the exit, her sophia Loren hips swinging madly. “Like two wildcats fightin’ in a burlap bag,” was his assessment. “Like what?” “uh, nothin.’ But you know, of all the things i’ve heard so far, what she says makes the most sense. that crowd was green with envy over Badger and smoke rise.” monique took another drink of cold soda. “it sorta looks that way, doesn’t it? i mean, why else do you try to kill both of them? But i don’t know. i still think there’s another kind of green on the table. Let’s take a drive.” tuesDaY, 4:00 p.m. “turn here, turn here,” clarke said to monique. they drove down the bumpy, red-dirt road that threatened to tear the undercarriage out from the impala. “man, we shoulda rode mountain bikes.” “and we would have swallowed dust for three miles,” monique reminded him. “there’s the freeway over there,” clarke said as he observed the line of traffic about a quarter of a mile off. “so they plan to build an off-ramp that connects to this new road they’re building.” “it’ll be a wider road leading west that’ll bypass town and the railroad. over there is where the new sam’s club will be built.” “Great. Let’s expand onto every bit of forest land so we can pollute more. How can moose city support all these people?” “same as every other town in this great nation, partner,” monique answered. “that must be the dig site.” 154 monique drove cautiously to the edge of the obvious area of activity. Dozens of mounds of red dirt sat piled along the recently carved dirt road. a large awning propped by four poles covered a hole in the ground. monique and clarke saw the bent backs of several people who were working in it, which meant the hole was about four feet deep. ross clipper was standing at the edge of the hole. He wore the same clothes they had seen him in earlier . Blood was clearly visible down the front of his yellow t-shirt. a hundred feet beyond clipper were three bulldozers, busily ripping small trees and bushes from the ground, creating the path the road would take. monique parked and the two climbed out. Dust swirled around in the dry heat. monique would have to wash her hair as soon as she got home. “Wish i had a scarf,” clarke said as he coughed. clipper was unable to hide his surprise at seeing the two detectives. monique didn’t fail to notice his expression. “Dr. clipper,” she said. “i thought you were golfing today.” “uh, changed my mind, detective. thought i’d come out here to make sure all’s well.” “and is it?” “Looks like it.” they looked into the hole and saw smithers and Langstrome with their little whisk brooms brushing away dirt from some bones. they had already uncovered five skeletons in the 20 by 20 excavation. “Wow,” exclaimed clarke. “Who are they?” “uh, local tribe’s ancestors,” clipper said. “What are you gonna do with them?” smithers blurted, “nothing right now. We have to keep watch over them. someone could come and take them at night.” monique said nothing. clarke, however, said, “Who’s gonna watch them?” “uh, the corps of engineers security guards,” clipper said. “come on, clarke,” monique said. “Well, how do you know they’ll be here to guard them tonight?” clarke persisted. “Just will,” clipper said. [52.91.0.68] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 18:23 GMT) 155 “clarke. now.” monique ordered. “one more question. Where are the items buried with these people?” clarke asked. “no items,” clipper said. “Just the people.” “and how old . . .” monique grabbed clarke’s arm and squeezed hard. “now.” clarke got the hint. “okay. Happy digging.” the two walked back to the car. red dust blew in when they opened the doors. “You dummy,” monique chided. “What?” clarke dusted himself off, which only made his lap dirty. monique started the car and drove off fast...