came here to say.” “Good. And Rogers? When can I expect him?” “Soon. Very soon.”

 

Chapter 71

 

PULLER LOOKED DOWN at the patch of dirt. His brother was next to him. Knox stood

a few feet behind them. And behind her was Paul Rogers.

 

They were thirty miles from Williamsburg, on a lonely stretch off Interstate 64

on the way to Richmond. A tree stood in front of them.

 

It was massive. Thirty years ago it might have just been a sapling.

 

On the north side of it was a sunken patch of ground.

 

They had not come alone. There was a forensics team with them.

 

A man wearing a CID windbreaker came up to Puller. “You ready for us to proceed,

Chief Puller?” Puller said curtly, “Go ahead.” The team moved forward, staked

out the spot with tape, and began to dig.

 

Six feet later they were done.

 

Ropes were unraveled into the hole. Men in hazmat suits scrambled into the

opening in the dirt. The rope was secured to the object. The order was given for

the men above to pull.