Forbidden Ground (Cold Creek #2)(82)

She’d called Nadine to say she was coming and saw her looking out a front window, waiting for her. It seemed strange to go in the front door for once, instead of through the side entrance to Paul’s shop.

“Things are still in a mess, but an organized one,” Nadine told Kate as she ushered her in. Kate could see she’d lost weight. Her jeans were baggy, and she wore one of Paul’s shirts. “My sister’s been staying here, helping me pack things, donate things, mostly get ready to have my nephew list Paul’s remaining works for sale on that eBay website. She’s gone to the grocery store, but I’d love to have you meet her.”

“If the two of you could use extra help, please let me know. I’ll be here for at least a few more days. So your illness has not been making you too tired?”

“I’m taking my meds, and I work in spurts. Cry in spurts. My sister’s been a godsend, but I’m sure you understand that.”

“I do, indeed. I miss Tess and Char when we’re apart, which is most of the time. So you haven’t thought about moving closer to your sister—to your doctor in Chillicothe?”

“Someday maybe, but I just can’t leave this area right now, not after all these years and memories here.”

“Then would you still be interested in buying my sister Tess’s place? I’d be happy to show it to you, and she’ll be back this weekend.”

“Do you think she’d rent it? Then, of course, if she had a buyer, I’d move on.”

“She might. I can sure ask her.”

“Well, let’s take a look at that carving you want. Grant called to say the two of you can drop by tonight so he can help you move it. He worries about you, I think,” she said with a hint of a smile. “Here, coffee, while we sit down and chat in Paul’s studio. Cream or sugar?”

“No, this is fine, thank you,” she said, taking the mug. She smiled at the wording on the cup. Paul Kettering Studio, wood carvings, au naturel.

Kate was surprised Nadine had to unlock the studio door. Inside, every sculpture was draped in cloth.

“I know it sounds strange,” Nadine said, taking a sip of her coffee, “but I don’t like his carved beings looking at me. They are all mythic, strange. I’ll proudly keep ones of plain old nature, but those fairy-tale types— Well, I’m relieved you want that Adena one.”

Kate doubled the price Nadine suggested. “It means a lot to me,” she explained as she took out her checkbook.

“Then you are getting something else with it,” Nadine said. “I almost forgot about this. Found it when I was going through reams of Paul’s sketches in his filing cabinet. He had the words Adena artifacts scribbled on it, so you might as well have it. Oh, and it was dated about twenty years ago, so he did it when he was in his teens. Now, where did I put that?”

Kate stared at the carving that was now hers. Maybe the sketch Nadine was searching for had preliminary sketches for the carving. That would be very special.

“Oh, here it is!” Nadine said. “Glad I found it because I’m wearing out again. Naps. I take a lot of naps. Here you are—yours!”

Kate took the sheet of parchment in her free hand and put her mug down with the other. She was shaking so hard she slopped coffee on the concrete floor. The pen-and-ink document dated twenty years ago was divided into four sections.

She gasped as she realized what she was looking at. On one quarter of the paper, Paul had sketched a leaf-shaped arrowhead that perfectly matched the shape and size of the one that must have been in the empty box Brad had buried. Beside that was an Adena ax head that would fit the form in the mica seam. Next was a drawing of an eagle pendant that would have been cherished by both the Adena and the Celts—by Carson’s Toltecs, too, no doubt.

But the most intricate drawing—though it was no doubt much smaller than actual size—had fine details, shading and crosshatching of its mica-chip skin and sharp horns. Glaring at her from the paper was the eyeless mask of the Celtic Beastmaster.





27

“Kate? What is it? Are you okay?” Nadine’s voice cut through Kate’s shock as she stared at the sketches Paul had made years ago.

“I— Yes. Maybe more than okay.” She felt she might collapse on the floor in hysteria—or else hit the ceiling in exultation.

“Nadine, this mask,” she said, pointing at it. “I realize Paul drew this two decades ago, but do you know where he saw it? Or the other things here?”

“Oh, it’s a mask? Wow, someone like a witch doctor wore that? You’ve seen that somewhere?”

“Not an original.”

“Maybe it’s something he saw in a book. With all the mythical things he carved, maybe he researched the Adena. See, it says Adena down by the date.”

“But these other items here, this ax head and arrowhead, are Adena and were found in this area, on Grant’s property to be exact. And this eagle pendant is similar to ones that are Celtic—the ancient European people I study. Where could Paul have seen that?”

“I have no idea. I didn’t even know him well then, and he was always looking for new ideas here and there.” Nadine sank into the single chair. Confusion and exhaustion shadowed her face. Kate regretted quizzing her like this, but if two of these artifacts existed, why not the other two? The pendant would be enough to support her theory, and the mask would prove it, no matter what Carson insisted about artifacts not being facts.