Faye Longchamp is overjoyed to be paid to do archaeological work she would have done anywayexcavating a site that was once her familys. That joy ends abruptly when intruders break into a dear friends house and leave him dead among the scattered remains of Fayes artifacts. But the open wall safe is untouched, and choice artifacts are left in their cases. There seems to be no motive at all for the vicious crimeunless the thieves were aware of the fabulous emerald he had been holding minutes before his death. But Faye had only uncovered it that very evening, and she had told no one.When his widow asks Faye to organize the relics left broken on the floor, Faye realizes that something is actually missingnot an emerald nor a valuable painting, but her field notes.
