“My pleasure,” Jack said, as he and Shawn began walking sideways, the ossuary between them. Having seen just the top nestled in the foam board, Jack could now appreciate the whole object. It looked bigger out of the crate. It was also heavier than he had expected.

“Did you have difficulty picking it up from the residence?” Jack asked.

“No, it was a breeze,” Shawn said, “but I don’t think His Most Reverend Holy Eminence muckety-muck wanted to part with it. He tried to suggest we could examine it there in his dusty old basement. Can you imagine? I mean, the man has no idea about science.”

“Careful!” Sana warned, as they walked through the building’s glass door. Once inside, they carefully lowered the ossuary onto the same bench Jack had been sitting on earlier.

Jack turned to Sana, and they greeted each other for the second time. “I’m not sure I would have recognized you,” Jack said. “You look different. Must be the haircut.”

“Funny you should mention it,” Shawn complained. “Her coiffure was one of her best features, if you ask me. You must have liked it, too, if you remembered it.”

“I did like it,” Jack said. “But I like it now, too.”

“That’s being diplomatic,” Shawn commented sourly.

“So, this is the famous ossuary,” Jack said, to change the subject. The air had become charged, and the last thing he wanted to do was get caught in the middle of a marital disagreement. Jack could sense there was some definite mutual hostility about Sana’s hairstyle.

“This is it,” Shawn said, recovering and giving the limestone box a tap on its top like a proud parent. “I’m psyched. I think it’s going to change a lot of people’s view of the world and their religiosity.”

“Provided it’s not empty,” Jack added. Uncertain of the power of prayer, he had a sense that James was giving it all he had.

“Of course provided it’s not empty,” Shawn rejoined sharply. “But it’s not going to be empty. Anyone want to bet?”

Neither Jack nor Sana responded. Both were a bit intimidated by the edge in Shawn’s voice.

“Hey, come on! Lighten up!” Shawn said. “I think we’re all a bit tense.”

“I think you’re right,” Sana agreed.

“Okay, one last step,” Jack said. “We need to get your IDs.”

While Shawn and Sana were taken to the security department to fill out paperwork and have their photos taken, Jack turned back to the ossuary. Now that it was out of the carton, he could examine it with ease, especially with the natural light streaming through the building’s front windows.