In a setting of red rock canyons and creeks running through evergreen forests in Arizona, ancient pottery is discovered in a cliff cave by a tour helicopter. When the pottery disappears, pilot/news reporter, Jerry Foster, helps investigate the theft. He learns about an American tribe's belief and heritage, as well as the ongoing questions about who artifacts belong to - an ancient tribe's descendants, a museum, or the people who took them? Jerry reports on the efforts made to recover the stolen vessels with two false leads. Crows watch the whole process. When amnesty is offered for the return of the artifacts, the pots are eventually returned, but are they? During the investigation, Jerry learns about the value and desire to own cultural property. He meets Hopi tribal members and gains an understanding of their skills and heritage. With few clues, Jerry is able to untangle this intriguing mystery. Cynthia Doll grew up in Phoenix. She has traveled extensively in the West, from the Southwest desert to Alaska and to the Pacific Northwest, finding her home in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. She is the author of "The Sparrow's Choice", and her essays and short stories have appeared in regional and national magazines and anthologies.
