Read Defending the Dead (Relatively Dead Mysteries Book 3) Online
Authors: Sheila Connolly
Tags: #mystery, #genealogy, #cozy, #psychic powers, #Boston, #Salem, #witch trials, #ghosts, #history
Defending the Dead (Relatively Dead Mysteries Book 3) (32 page)
Marty snorted. “Lots of history for that site, even before the Society bought the land. You never know what might turn up.”
“Well, I told Scott to have the crew clean it out and save whatever they found, so we could take a look at it. If it’s just trash, it goes straight to the Dumpster.”
As we ate we discussed the timing of the project and the events we were planning around it and other normal Society business, as appropriate between the president and a long-term board member. As we were finishing, Marty said, with unusual hesitation, “What would you think about asking Eliot to join the board?”
I considered. “Does that mean you think this thing you’ve got going will last? I think as a candidate he’d be great—his scholarly connections and his area of expertise would be big plusses for us. Who’s planning to leave the board?”
We hashed over board prospects and plans, then walked back to the Society. Before we reached the building I asked, “Have you talked to Eliot about this?”
“Not yet. I’m just thinking about it. But you’re good with it?”
“I am. Go for it,” I said firmly.
“Maybe I will.”
Back at the Society we went our separate ways. As I’d told Marty, I’d already asked Lissa to look into the history of the building. I was reasonably familiar with it, having used the boilerplate about it often when I was in development, but nobody had been looking for surprises in the basement, and maybe Lissa could shed some light on the pit. When I got back to my office, I called Lissa, who answered quickly.
“You know we’re using the Wakeman money to make physical repairs to the building,” I began, “and we’ve been clearing out about a century’s worth of junk before the construction crew starts—you might have noticed the Dumpster outside. The workers were finishing up in the basement today and they found some kind of pit in the floor. It had a wooden lid on it, and it had been covered who knows how long by some ancient wooden filing cabinets. I’ve asked the construction guys to save whatever they pulled out of it, just to see if it was anything more than a trash pit.”
“I haven’t seen any mention of a pit in the records so far. It’s not a well?” Lissa asked.
“No water in it now, although it’s possible. I don’t have any idea about things like that. I know there were tunnels to the river under some of the older houses east of here, so I’m guessing the water level was below the level of the pit. But I’m wondering if it was originally outside the building, and in that case, if it might have been a privy.”
Lissa said, “Ew,” and I laughed. “Don’t worry,” I said, “if that is the case, it hasn’t been used for a long, long time. I think any . . . waste products are long gone. You know the Cotter book?”
“Of course!” Lissa replied eagerly. “
The Buried Past
. I’m glad to hear that you know about it, too.”
“Mr. Cotter used to be a member here—he was a delightful man. If I remember correctly, he included a section on Philadelphia privy pits and what was found in them. You can skim through it again and see if there’s any helpful information there. Oh, and look for the original plans for the mansion and for this building, to see where the perimeters were, and how they line up with our current plans. No need to rush, I’m just satisfying my own curiosity. And of course I’m always on the lookout for interesting little bits of information like this, to put in the newsletters or online. Although I’m not sure our patrons would be charmed to learn that they’ve been working above an antique loo—we might have to do some fancy rephrasing.”
“I hear you,” Lissa said, laughing. “Let me see what we’ve got. Surely there must be some plans for the building?”
“Ask our architect—he must have them, or copies of them. Start with him.”
“Will do. I’ll get back to you if I find anything interesting.”
Books by Sheila Connolly
All of Sheila Connolly’s books
are available now at
Amazon
Once She Knew
“The Rising of the Moon”
Reunion with Death
Under the Hill
Relatively Dead Mysteries
Relatively Dead
Seeing the Dead
Defending the Dead
Orchard Mysteries
One Bad Apple
Rotten to the Core
Red Delicious Death
A Killer Crop
Bitter Harvest
Sour Apples
“Called Home”
Golden Malicious
Picked to Die
Museum Mysteries
Fundraising the Dead
Let’s Play Dead
Fire Engine Dead
“Dead Letters”
Monument to the Dead
Razing the Dead
Privy to the Dead
County Cork Mysteries
Buried in a Bog
Scandal in Skibbereen
An Early Wake
Writing as Sarah Atwell
Glassblowing Mysteries
Through a Glass, Deadly
Pane of Death
Snake in the Glass
About the Author
After collecting too many degrees and exploring careers ranging from art historian to investment banker to professional genealogist, Sheila Connolly began writing mysteries in 2001 and is now a full-time writer.
She wrote her first mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime under the name Sarah Atwell, and the first book,
Through a Glass, Deadly
, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel;
Pane of Death
followed, and then
Snake in the Glass
.
Under her own name, her Orchard Mystery Series (Berkley Prime Crime) debuted with
One Bad Apple
, followed by
Rotten to the Core
,
Red Delicious Death
,
A Killer Crop
,
Bitter Harvest
,
Sour Apples
,
Golden Malicious
, and
Picked to Die
.
Her Museum Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), set in the Philadelphia museum community, opened with
Fundraising the Dead
, followed by
Let’s Play Dead
,
Fire Engine Dead
, “Dead Letters,”
Monument to the Dead
,
Razing the Dead
, and
Privy to the Dead
.
Her new series, the County Cork Mysteries (Berkley Prime Crime), debuted with
Buried in a Bog
and was followed by
Scandal in Skibbereen
and
An Early Wake
.
She has also published eight original ebooks with Beyond the Page:
Sour Apples
,
Once She Knew
,
The Rising of the Moon
,
Reunion with Death
,
Under the Hill
,
Relatively Dead
,
Seeing the Dead
, and
Defending the Dead
.
Sheila is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Romance Writers of America. She is a former President of Sisters in Crime New England, and was cochair for the 2011 New England Crime Bake conference.
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