After lighting the match, I lit the row of candles on the shelf behind the tub, grabbed the two largest, placed them on the floor, then sat. Placing the lump of ore on the rim of the tub, I started with the gem book. Page after page showed beautifully cut colored gemstones. The rock in front of me hardly looked like any image. I had no idea if this was what, say, a Yogo sapphire looked like in its natural state. Or even if this was a raw gemstone. It could be gold, or silver, or just a rock.

I slammed the book closed in frustration.

Maverick bumped against the door.

“I’m okay, Maverick. Just keep guarding.”

Two of the titles from my bookshelf drew my attention—one on the mining history of the region, the second on regional lore.

The rock looked nothing like any of the precious metals in the mining book. Three strikes, you’re out. The legend book, under different circumstances, might have been interesting, but contained nothing about rocks or gems. I did find the same map that was in the lodge. Mae’s place was probably along Beryl Creek.

I closed the book, but the word stayed with me. Beryl. I had seen that word in the gemstone book. I looked it up in the index, then turned to the correct page. “A mineral colored by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Be3Al2(SiO3)6. Emerald.”

One of the most precious gems in the world.

Chapter 30

My hand shook as I picked up the stone. According to the book, emeralds of lighter green shades were classified as green beryl.

I put together a new theory. Someone had discovered emeralds on the protected border of Yellowstone and began mining them illegally. Just finding the raw stones wouldn’t be enough. What would need to happen next?

I returned to the book on gems. Emeralds weren’t addressed specifically, but in general, raw stones could be taken to a cutter to be faceted, then sold to jewelers.

The Rock & Gem magazine had ads for various services, including cutting of gemstones. One was in Montana, not far from here. Another said they sent the stones to Sri Lanka for faceting. Either way, raw gems could go from a mine, to a cutter, then be sold to jewelers.

A very nice little operation.

I’d found the answer to the first question—what was so valuable that would drive someone to murder? Question two was who wanted it? I carefully reread the resort offerings. Nothing new jumped out at me. The lowest offer did carry the initials SD, but I didn’t know if that was the agent or potential buyer. Question three would also remain unanswered—how did they plan on getting away with all their crimes?

A door slammed in the distance.