Thunderhead (Nora Kelly #0)

by Douglas Preston

She shook her head. “No,” she said. “I don’t think I’ll do that. I think I’ll check the satellite images instead. And I know what I’ll find: a monstrous storm, centered directly over the Kaiparowits Plateau.” At this, Sloane’s face went dead white. Beads of rain were collecting on her wide cheekbones. “Nora, listen. It’s possible I never looked in that direction. You’ve got to believe me.” “Where’s Black?” Nora asked suddenly. Sloane stopped, surprised by the question. “Up in the city,” she said. “What do you think he’ll say when I confront him? He was up on top of that ridge with you.” Sloane’s eyebrows contracted. “He’s not well, and—” “And Aragon is dead,” Nora interrupted, speaking in a barely controlled fury. “Sloane, you were going to break into that kiva, no matter what the cost. And that cost was murder.” The ugly word hung in the heavy air. “You’re going to prison, Sloane,” Nora said. “And you’ll never work in this field again. I’m going to make sure of that personally.” As Nora stared at Sloane, she saw the shock, the confusion, in her eyes start to turn to something else.

And nobody with a working brain would have this conversation until AFTER they got back to civilization!!