Vindication

By Louetta Jensen

Justin Carreau, best described as pure steel and sex appeal, learns of an opportunity to work again with his professional rivals, the two brothers Warren and Daniel Kendall, at an archeological site in Washington State. Their mutual goal is to discover a buried Viking ship. However, Justin also hopes to uncover the truth regarding an earlier accident that claimed the life of his best friend and fellow archeologist, Todd McKenna.

The three archeologists come together on this new assignment, along with three others playing pivotal roles in the mystery: Lynnzee Monroe, a greenhorn yet beautiful assistant; Charlotte Brennan, an elderly widow harboring secrets; and Rochelle Kendall, the reluctant and wary bride of Daniel Kendall.

The archeological crew travel along Washington State rivers in search of an authentic Viking longboat, buried and well preserved according to the ancient Norse custom. Without a doubt, they are aware that dozens and dozens of these Viking longboats have been discovered buried and perfectly preserved in nearly every other continent around the globe.

Regarding the Kendall brothers, blood and kinship in the end mean nothing, not when it comes to the bottom line, a line Warren conceivably may cross over, and Daniel battles against and struggles with his inner demons.

Vindication is a story of one mans fight for justice, and in the end, it comes down to blood, brothers, and war, while another accident looms heavily on the horizon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524627959

Louetta Jensen

After working twenty years in the medical profession, Louetta Oney’s pursuit of publication began in earnest. Understandably, as a medical transcriptionist, she tired of typing other people’s words. It became far more important that she write her own. Bittersweet Serenity is her third book, and she is currently writing a fourth, another mystery.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

I T was a brittle and bitter cold January for Justin Carreau, and tonight was the darkest of ebony nights, far from twilight, and the hour quite late. Todd McKenna worked feverishly with Justin at their archeological dig site situated along a desolate, nearly forgotten stretch of rain-swollen farmland, between a rocky creek bed and a chain of curvaceous hills. Their mood was grim. Raingear, jackets, jeans and boots were copiously smeared with slippery mud. Overhead, thunder rolled, gaining momentum and gathering resonance.

The two men inspect closely the broken shards of an exquisitely crafted urn. Around them, florescent markers divide sections of the site. Nearby is a backhoe, wheel barrows, shovels, picks, screens, other miscellaneous tools, and a small trailer serving as a makeshift office and storage unit.

Justin and Todd pause to listen to the static rustling of a news bulletin from a local radio station. The weather forecaster, near panic in his strained voice, was predicting a powerful hurricane of considerable measure. Torrential rains would accompany the gale force winds, and according to precise and scientific calculations, untold damage was expected. Rivers and creeks would reach flood stage in less than an hour, roads would be swept away, and groves of sodden trees would topple. Hundreds of homes and local businesses would be without electrical power for at least several days; inconvenience would be the least of expected hardships to come.

More rain? Todd asked, shaking his grey head of thinning hair. The rains have drenched everything and we’re already up to our eyeballs in drizzle.

Yeah, Justin nodded in agreement. Tonight, of all nights!

We just need a bit more time to think a plan through and hide the artifacts. Todd shook the rain from his head again. I don’t see how we can keep the Kendall brothers from finding out about our unique discovery of today. I’m rather surprised they’re not here yet!

There was a meaningful exchange of eye contact between the two men before Justin responded. The lying, thieving bastards don’t deserve to know!

Todd attempted to wipe the dirt from his eyeglasses with a sopping wet rag. Regardless, it’s a safe bet they’ve been spying or snooping around our site the last couple of days.

Todd stops to look through his toolbox. Could have sworn my small soft wire brush was right here.

Justin steps over to a larger box of supplies. I last saw it in here…

Justin paused, his taut lips drawn together like layers of blue steel. That’s not the only thing missing. Looks like some of our explosives are gone too!

There is a meaningful exchange of eye contact between the two men as lightning sizzles, thunder screams and rain pours down from the violent sky.

Todd’s tone is dead serious. Then it’ll happen soon…maybe even tonight!

Both Justin and Todd were very aware that venom, instead of blood, coursed through the veins of their professional rivals, the two Kendall brothers, Warren and Daniel. Justin and Todd knew to expect trouble from the two brothers as it was already very well established that the Kendall brothers had no moral compunctions, and no decent boundaries for their underhanded tactics, sadistic schemes, or back stabbing strategies. If it was devious, the Kendall brothers relished it all the more!

Todd leaned very close to Justin. You can’t ever trust those Kendall brothers, Justin! Don’t ever think different.

Overhead, the violent sky was now at merciless war with the earth.

Todd leaned closer yet. Promise me, you’ll never forget that, even after I’m long gone.

On edge, Justin was only remotely aware of grinding his teeth, and curling his powerful fingers into vicious claws as he wondered if anyone would survive this dark, painfully cold night. I’ll remember…always.

Despite the darkness, Justin could see Todd’s eyes fill with tears and his wrinkled smile slowly take form. You’ve been like a son…

You’ve been like a father…

I won’t always be here for you, Justin.

Don’t talk crazy like that, Todd.

I could drop dead of a heart attack.

Not on my watch, you won’t!

You know very well what I mean.

Natural causes are one thing, Justin said.

Well, if it ain’t natural…

Another burst of lightning crackled across the ebony sky, followed by tremendous rolling waves of thunder.

I can’t bear the thought!

You can bear anything, Justin. I’ve taught you that and that’s how we’re geared, you and I. You’ll be fine. Just make certain, if it comes to that, you get to the bottom line and uncover the truth.

Something turned in Justin’s gut this very moment, a silent recognition, a premonition perhaps. What ever that was, it was undeniable and it left him feeling weak in the knees and unusually vulnerable. The truth, Justin sensed, began with the name Kendall, and there were two of them, and both brothers rotten to the core!

Todd turned up the radio volume to better hear an updated weather report. The weatherman explained that a major dam was now compromised, and had been forced to subvert even greater quantities of water into the overburdened waterways. He urged everyone to move to higher elevations if at all possible.

Enough said, Todd said, watching another tree topple to the ground, downed by the ravaging wind, and with a root system unable to hold its place in the extraordinarily sodden, spongy soil. We need to secure our artifacts, hope for the best, and get the hell out of here!

A hundred feet away, they discover the trailer is now rocking side to side as it was battered by the increasing winds. The only door hangs askew, crashing loudly, swinging on a single hinge. They immediately reinforce the anchors and tie-downs outside the small trailer.

Justin, Todd yells. Take the artifacts inside and do what you can to secure them. I’ll work on fixing this door."

Inside, Justin secured their precious artifacts, placing them in padded crates which would be later sent for carbon dating and thorough lab analysis. Panic drilled through Justin when he realized he was six crates shy. A sense of hopelessness prevailed as the remainder of the artifacts were carefully placed in cardboard boxes, blankets, paper sacks, sleeping bags; anything that might help safeguard their priceless discoveries.

Outside, their heavy canvas tent was blown fiercely about, lifted easily into the air, coming to rest against a stand of swaying fir trees. The contents of their tent spilled and scattered over the ground; a wooden table and pair of folding chairs were crumbled and splintered upon impact. Pulled by the untamed crosscurrents of air, numerous printed reports and documents twirled and glided away into the murky darkness.

Together, Justin and Todd pressed against the wind as they left the small office trailer, flying shards of debris hurtling recklessly through the air, grazing and cutting a dangerous path at alarming rates of speed. Drenched, and now up to their knees in thick mud, they could not run, could not move nearly fast enough.

It’s like wading through quicksand, Justin yelled, reinforced with gallons of glue!

Slow going, dodging trees as they fell along the perimeter of the clearing, the timbers crashed, cracked, and crushed to the ground. Justin and Todd finally made their way to their pickup trucks. Earlier that afternoon, they parked their vehicles at the edge of what seemed to be a slow, lazy, slender ribbon of a small stream. Now, the widespread waters slapped brutally at the bumpers of both trucks!

It was then Justin caught the flash of a white light, coming from a north-northwest direction, beyond and slightly above their excavation site. The light reflected easily off the florescent markers used to divide sections of the site, and the silhouette of a human shape was sharply outlined in that very brief moment.

Justin wondered if he had seen anyone at all; the storm capable of creating outlandish shapes and disguises, forming monstrous sights, where in the light of day, those same shapes might be interpreted as genuinely innocent and completely unremarkable.

Todd and Justin took refuge in the old rust-bucket of a pickup truck nicknamed Fred; a decades old favorite possession belonging to Todd. With a wicked vengeance, the rains increased and the wind howled, stronger gusts rippled across the hood of the truck, and whistled eerily at the windows.

Todd started the engine and put his truck into gear. The meaty tires spun heedlessly in the slippery mud. He tried reverse, and again the tires could not gain traction. It was a losing battle as the tires were deeply embedded in a large sinkhole, the adjacent ground literally gushing profuse amounts of water.

Together they retraced their steps, wading through the swirling waters, returning to their small office trailer, where water now lapped at the door. Exhausted, they stepped inside where a moment later two of the four windows shattered explosively into the small space, the raging wind driving the torrential rain and bits of glass throughout the structure.

Even now, Justin knew this nightmare was a dark and sober reality.

Peering out the shattered window frame, Todd then spotted what appeared to be a strange flickering light a good distance away, and in a location where there should not have been any light; none whatsoever. Justin turned and stepped beside Todd, and he too saw the hazy beam of light. A moment later, another flash of light held their attention.

Justin, stay here, Todd said. I’ve forgotten something and I need to get it.

No! Justin yelled, grabbing Todd by the sleeve of his soggy jacket. You haven’t forgotten anything. Don’t go out there.

It’s probably nothing…

Then stay here.

I need to check out that light.

We’ll go together!

No. You stay here, Justin. Todd’s eyes were solemn dark sapphires. While I’m gone, I want you to cover the crates with tarps and move them further away from the broken windows.

Todd frowned. The one crate…move the other crates to shield it as best you can! It must survive intact.

Todd was referring to the last artifacts uncovered earlier that very day from a small underground cave, several extraordinary fragments of primitive pottery. Less than ten feet away, they also discovered bits of human bone and what looked to be partial passages from an ancient stone manuscript! Both men readily agreed they were on the verge of a major unearthing.

Then, they encountered the storm.

By now, the cave would be underwater.

Justin continued to protest.

Todd, stubborn Irishman that he was, flatly refused to give in.

In the end, Todd promised to return in ten minutes.

If you’re not back here in five, Justin shouted. I’m coming after you. Dammit! I shouldn’t let you leave at all!

You don’t have a choice, Justin, and you’ll do as I’ve asked.

Justin opened his mouth to speak, but decided it was not a wise choice. Before Todd McKenna’s husky frame disappeared through the doorway, he paused for a meaningful moment, offering Justin a glimpse of his chipped-tooth grin. Then Todd was gone, swallowed by the screaming turbulent wind.

The nightmare sensation clutched Justin fiercely at the throat, yet he did as Todd requested, setting the one precious crate well above the heaving water line, protecting and securing it very carefully.

Five of the ten minutes remained as he moved to the broken window frame. A deep rumbling of thunder danced fiercely overhead while the brutal wind continued to shriek like a wild beast. Justin leaned forward, looking more closely at another emerging shape of light.

He felt a sudden, odd chill. Something was not right. He could feel it, like a snake just slithered across his face!

Justin leaped through the window frame, bits of broken glass clinging to his jacket, and headed straight for the excavation site and cave.

At a distance, outlined against the turbulent night sky, he could now clearly discern the shapes of two men. They stood close to one another, blending together in the darkness, yet one held a flashlight, and that light bobbed and arced senselessly through the air. The two shapes looked to be fighting!

Justin struggled to increase his pace; slowly maneuvering through the mud and his breathing became quite labored with the intense physical effort. He could feel the rapid drumming of his racing heart as it throbbed in his ears, echoing louder and louder as he drew nearer the excavation site. He could now discern the wooden railings above the cave entrance, as well as the planking, heavy duty shoring and steel beams.

Then, an enormous bright light consumed the darkness in an instant! The earth groaned beneath Justin’s feet, heaving and tossing his large frame easily and brusquely to the ground. There followed a horrendous detonation and concussion, and the impact of the sound reverberated violently through his body and echoed over his immediate surroundings.

Justin’s worst fears were quickly realized; a fierce explosion seemed to have come from the direction where he had last seen the two figures struggling in the darkness! As he brought himself to his feet, Justin could no longer locate the familiar wooden railings and numerous steel beams jutting out against the horizon. Nothing of the excavation site looked the same as it had mere moments before!

He could not move fast enough.

He then heard the telltale movement of rushing water…a large body of water! Suddenly, the earth slid out from under his feet again, lifting him, and sending him careening down the path he had just struggled to traverse. His hands flailed about recklessly, searching for something to stop or slow his speedy descent, but everything was now covered with a slippery, swirling blanket of mud.

He felt the crushing weight of helplessness seize him, smothering him. Justin could feel the fiery flush of anger burn through him as he stood on his feet again to retrace his steps. He focused on his friend Todd who must certainly be in grave trouble! Breathless, Justin reached the approximate area of the excavation site. The violent explosion had mounded the wet earth into huge twisted hills and dozens of mud packed valleys! The entrance to the underground cave was not to be seen…anywhere. The wooden railing and strong planking were utterly ripped apart, and jagged pieces were scattered as far as Justin could see in the vast darkness. A flashlight lay abandoned and half-submerged in a deep puddle of mud.

Frantic in his search for Todd, he yelled out to his friend and father-figure, cupping his cold hands to his mouth, screaming his name, repeatedly.

Then his eyes spotted another object peeking up from the mud, a leather boot!

Diving into the pool of mud, Justin reached for the boot and pulled hard. The boot moved an inch, maybe two. Groaning, he pulled harder, exerting more force and the boot slipped from his grasp, disappearing back down into the lake of mud!

Diving again, Justin found the boot and a denim-clad leg, wrenching and twisting the buried man in an effort to bring him closer to the surface.

How long had Todd been without air?

Justin feared too long!

No, dear God, no!

He summoned all his strength, digging a heel in, planting a well-muscled thigh against a large boulder, extracting the submerged body slowly from the thick mud, inch by frustrating inch.

He tried not to think of Todd suffocating on the mud.

He tried not to think at all.

He thought only to pull, and then pull harder!

Justin never felt the needle sharp force of the relentless rain.

He failed to hear the shrieks of relentless thunder.

The storm was elsewhere now…

Finally, his hands grasped a leather belt above the denim-clad leg and Justin finally exhumed the body, the mud oozing and bubbling through his hands and over the limp and lifeless form.

Todd!

Justin wasted no time in placing the mud-slimed body on safer ground, checking for a pulse. He checked the wrist, then the carotid at the neck.

Nothing.

He laid an ear to the mud-encrusted jacket.

Not a beat.

He felt again at the neck, and this time he thought there might be a faint pulse!

The exhumed body suddenly shivered, coughed, and then shivered convulsively again.

Can you hear me? Justin screamed. Breathe, dammit! Come on, Todd!

Yet, something was very…very…wrong, Justin decided.

Quickly, he wiped at the thick layer of mud covering the man’s body, exposing a plaid pattern to the jacket, and a head of dark blonde hair. The belt-buckle was decidedly distinct, a one in a million.

No, it can’t be!

Panic rose through Justin and stung him as if it were a serpent!

The dawning of truth came to him.

True, he had pulled a man from a certain death.

But…the man was not Todd McKenna!

"I saved…the wrong man! I saved a…Kendall!

Justin plunged headfirst into the valley of mud.

But…Justin would be too late. He would be unable to save Todd.

This was no accident!

CHAPTER TWO

B EFORE the accident, Justin Carreau had counted his blessings daily. Now, three years after that catastrophic event, Justin Carreau reluctantly counted his enemies.

Of all the heated rumors circulating, one inferno held the fundamental flame of truth; sabotage had indeed occurred at Justin’s archaeological excavation site. The subsequent criminal and insurance investigations confirmed a devastating explosion had occurred beneath the rain-drenched landmass in question. As a result, the destructive mudslides injured several workers and claimed the life of Justin’s fellow archaeologist, trusted friend and mentor, Todd McKenna.

Officially, Justin was cleared of any wrong doing in Todd’s death, yet his professional name was now tarnished with innuendos and riddled with vicious, slanderous lies. It was a nightmarish formula for misfortune that continued to haunt Justin, and the stigma of the accident lived on every day.

However, Justin had a finger to point of his own. He long suspected his archeological rivals, the Kendall brothers, Warren and Daniel, of malicious tampering of equipment at the accident site, and assembling and detonation of the explosives. On many occasions, Todd warned him about the Kendalls. He seemed to think that, among other dubious deeds, the Kendall brothers were manipulating monetary grants and financial funding out from under the noses of their mutual employer, Vandenberg Anthropology Foundation.

Nevertheless, without any solid proof to substantiate foul play, the insurance investigators and officials ruled the explosion and mudslides an unfortunate and untimely accident. The case was terminated.

Yet, the suspected sabotage remained an injustice to Justin’s way of thinking, and he felt that no one had paid dearly for his or her crimes. As he expected, lingering questions and suspicions eventually smothered out the truth.

To make matters worse, Justin also expected he was about to lose his job. That very afternoon he had been summoned to the Director’s office at the California branch of the Vandenberg Anthropology Foundation. Justin was to meet with his superior, Grant Vickers, and although they had known each other for nearly fifteen years, their conversation immediately turned combative.

Grant Vickers lowered his balding head, eyeing Justin over the rim of his tortoise shell reading glasses. He watched as Justin briskly paced the hardwood floors of the office, recognizing the sleek and powerful feline movements one might see in a determined and hungry, jungle cat.

Justin, none of us have any choices here. Vickers finally said. "Vandenberg’s passing has caught us at a particularly bad time. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is shocked the old bastard left next to nothing in his will for the ongoing research, development, and preservation of our sites and artifacts! It is the cruelest of blows! And now we’re unable