Murder is Carved in Stone

From majestic mountains to breathtaking seascapes, the Inside Passage has lured adventurers and fortune seekers to the Pacific Northwest for centuries. To some, though, societal rules were made to be broken and the riches of the wondrous waterway were simply a pathway to plunder the artifacts of the land.

Illinois Smith fell into that category. A self-proclaimed archaeologist and global explorer, he used his expertise to steal the treasures of the land and to sell them on the black market for a huge profit. 

The authorities knew of his activities, but weren't able to pin anything on him. He seemed to be immune from the tentacles of the law and operated with impunity as he padded his offshore bank accounts with cash from a clandestine clientele of global customers who stocked their private collections with his ill-gotten treasures.

​He was under surveillance as he prepared to board a cruise ship that would take him to ports of call along the Inside Passage. Law enforcement officials pondered what he was planning and what he would be attempting to smuggle through customs this time upon his return to the port of Seattle.

But, the ship embarked without Smith. On the departure date, his body was found lying face down on the rocky shore of an island in Puget Sound. Could his death have been an accident, or did someone who knew too much decide that Smith's career should end unceremoniously?

Who would kill the scurrilous scofflaw and what was he doing on the isolated island? What treasure was he trying to transport and how was he planning to avoid authorities? Only keen questioning and thorough theories would identify the killer.