The Roman numerals scratched on the top were far more visible than they’d been in James’s basement. Mary’s name, supposedly rendered in Aramaic, was still indecipherable to Jack. The sides of the limestone box were similar in appearance to the top but with fewer scratches. On one end, there was a shallow drill hole whose interior color was far lighter than the rest of the box’s surface. There were also four small chipped areas on the same end, which were the identical light color.

“All right, we’re ready to rumble,” Shawn called out to Jack, as he and Sana appeared with their new ID cards suspended around their necks.

“Can I ask you something?” Jack asked Shawn as they prepared to pick up the ossuary.

“By all means.”

“I noticed this light tan drill hole,” Jack said, pointing. “And these chip marks. They look new. What are they?”

“They are new,” Shawn admitted. “I used a power drill to find the ossuary. I know it is far from standard archaeological technique, but we were crunched for time. As for the chipped areas, they were from the chisel I had to use. Once we’d found the box, I had to get the damn thing out of the hardpan as soon as I could because of Sana. You should have heard her complaining about how long it was taking.”

“I think under the circumstances, I was doing damn well,” Sana snapped.

“I’m glad you think so,” Shawn snapped back.

“Okay, okay!” Jack said. “Sorry I asked.” He’d been with the couple for only ten minutes and already he could sense why James felt as he did about their marriage.

“You couldn’t have done what you did without my help,” Sana continued, “and this is the thanks I get.”

“Come on, you guys!” Jack cried. “Cool it! We’re here so you people can realize the benefits of all your efforts. Let’s see what’s in the ossuary.” Jack inwardly groaned. He was worrying about refereeing between Shawn and James, and had no interest in doing the same between Shawn and Sana.

Sana continued to glare at Shawn while he stared out the window for a beat.

“You’re right!” Shawn suddenly said. He gave Jack a playful slap on the shoulder. “Let’s get this thing up to the lab and proceed!” He emphasized the word proceed by raising his voice and pronouncing it as if it were two words, not one. Then he bent over and picked up one end of the ossuary while Jack quickly did the same on the other. Together they carried it toward the turnstile and the elevator beyond.

On the eighth floor, they walked nearly the length of the building to reach the lab. Sana and Shawn were full of compliments about the building and the impressive view. “I hope I don’t get too spoiled,” Sana said. “This building is like laboratory paradise.”