The Romanov Conspiracy Read Free

out grotesquely from the peaty earth. Her clothes were exposed, some kind of pale-colored blouse and a dark woolen top that looked from another century. “Jeepers.”
    Tom said, “Creepy, isn’t it? The permafrost’s acted like a deep freeze.”
    Roy added, “Baby, it doesn’t surprise me. They’ve found woolly mammoths intact in this kind of soil. Take a look over to the left.”
    I did, and saw the remains of a dark, coarse jacket protrude from the rich brown earth, about a foot of the cloth exposed, and what appeared to be the vague shape of a small human torso underneath the fabric.
    Roy said, “There’s another body in there. We can’t be sure if it’s a child or an adult, but it’ll take us some time to get it out. We’ll concentrate on the woman first.”
    I turned my attention back to the woman, shivered, and peered closer. The preserved head was plainly visible. Her eyes were closed. I could see her nose and lips, ears, and cheeks, locks of dark hair curled across her features and forehead. She had good cheekbones. I shone the flashlight on her alabaster face and it was a disturbing experience. I knew I was looking at one of the most remarkable finds ever discovered at Ekaterinburg. “It’s astonishing. I wonder who she was?”
    “Heaven only knows. But there’s something else,” Roy offered.
    “What?”
    “Take a look at what’s in her hand.”
    I shone the light on the still clenched bones, held firm for how many decades? It appeared that she was clutching some kind of metal chain. “What is it?”
    “Looks like a piece of jewelry,” Tom said.
    “I’ll take your word for it. Anyone want to try to pry the hand open?”
    Roy grinned. “We thought we’d leave that to you.”
    “Thanks a bunch.”
    “You’re the boss, baby.” Roy handed me a pair of disposable surgical gloves.
    “Here, hold the flashlight while I try.”
    Roy held my light and shone it on the clenched hand. I slipped on the gloves, steeled myself, closing my eyes a moment, and then I went for it. I gripped the index finger and the wrist and pulled gently, trying to open the hand.
    The flesh felt marble cold and solid.
    I was afraid that I might tear the skin apart or the entire hand would shatter like delicate porcelain. To my surprise, the bones uncoiled silently, just a fraction, but enough to see what it held. “Aim the torch here.”
    Roy shone it on the open hand. In the palm’s bleached white furrows I saw a chain and locket.
    It looked nothing extravagant or expensive like some of the jewelry found at Ekaterinburg, hidden away by royal relatives or the wealthy merchants who were executed here. I lifted out the locket and wiped it gently with my fingers. I could see it had some kind of raised image on the front, but the locket was part covered by peaty earth, the chain fragile.
    Roy offered his penknife. “Here, try this.”
    I took the knife and scraped away caked dirt. There was no mistaking the raised Romanov family seal in gold, inlaid in front. It showed the double-headed imperial eagle. I could tell there was an inscription on the locket’s rear, but it was obliterated by corrosion. My heart skipped.
    Tom said, elated, “You think we got lucky?”
    “Great minds think alike. I wish I knew.”
    Roy said, “Hey, baby, you think maybe we’ve found Romanov remains?”
    I didn’t reply, just stared at the locket, mesmerized.
    Tom rubbed his frozen hands as if trying to set them on fire with friction. “Who knows? But we better inform the Russians. We’ll have to cut her out of the permafrost. Hopefully a closer look can tell us if her body suffered any trauma and how she likely died.”
    The Russians had control of the dig. An inspector came out every other day from Ekaterinburg to check on our progress. But that was barely on my mind as I stared at the locket, my mind on fire. “ No , don’t do anything, or inform anyone officially. Not just yet.”
    Tom frowned, and Roy said, “Why not?”
    I