Buffalo Mesa Mummy

Chapter 7

When they reached the sand wash Peter asked Maria to drive while he looked over the video they had taken again. It was a smooth path from there to the house so Charlie was able to lean over Peter’s shoulder and watch while they made the rest of the trip.

When Maria pulled the Mule into the back yard they saw Mrs. Shantos standing on the back porch holding the phone. As the Mule came to a stop at the steps she told Peter that his father was on the line. Peter closed the laptop and handed it to Charlie and then jumped out of the Mule and took the phone. While Charlie and Maria went inside with their mother Peter sat on the steps and talked to his father.

“Dad loved the website. There are just a couple things he wants us to change, but nothing big. He is anxious to see the response he gets from the seminar group.” Peter announced to the group seated around the kitchen table drinking Yanabah, a traditional Navajo tea made from the Greenthread plant.

Aunt Kachina poured Peter a cup from the steaming pot she had just taken from the stove. Peter took it and thanked her, though he found the brew, made from a wild growing yellow flower, a little bitter for his taste. The Navajo drank it all the time and claimed it helped keep a person healthy.

They were anxious to get to work and after a little bit the three friends excused themselves and went to Charlie’s room to make the changes on the website. They wanted to plan what to do next about the mummy lady, but they were still keeping that secret. 

Maria asked if they shouldn’t tell someone so the police could do something.

“Maria, first of all it would be your dad and mine that would investigate first. This is Federal Parks land now and whenever the woman died it was probably still reservation land. Who knows how long it would even take to figure out who had jurisdiction.” Peter said.

“And,” Charlie added, “Dad and Dr. Ramsey won’t be home until Sunday. We aren’t going to touch anything and maybe we can figure out what happened before they even get back.” 

“Ok, but if we get grounded for a hundred years or something I will get even with you.” Maria said eyeing both of the boys with a menacing look on her face. 

“Look, we need to get this web thing finished and then we need to try and figure out who our mystery lady is.” Peter said, going over to the bed and picking up the laptop. 

“Why don’t you try to find out who our Samantha is, while Charlie and I make the changes on the website?” Peter said, handing the laptop to Maria. She took it and sat on the floor with her back against the wall and connected to the wireless internet.

“I have something.” Maria announced, less than fifteen minutes later.

Peter left Charlie making the last changes on the website and sat next to Maria on the floor.

“I did a search for missing people with the first name Samantha and I found three. Two of them are out east so that leaves them out. Then there is this one.” Maria said pointing at the screen, where a news story was displayed.

“Young Woman Missing In Chaco Canyon.” The headlines blared across the screen. As Peter read Charlie came over and sat on the other side of Maria.

“Samantha McMillan, a graduate student from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque has been the target of an extensive search since being reported missing in the Chaco Canyon area last Monday, June 8th. She was doing research in the Chaco Culture National Historic Park, south of Albuquerque, when she disappeared. Her yellow 1948 Willys Jeepster was found in an area where she often spent time photographing ruins.” Maria read out loud.

“Man that is a sweet car. Would I love to have one of those?” Peter said, eyeing the photo of a pretty girl standing next to the Jeepster.

The article went on to say that the parents, a prominent Albuquerque couple, were sparing no expense in the search for Samantha and were offering a large reward for any information.