“We know,” said David.
“It’s always so exciting,” said Scott.
“I’d like to be able to tone down the excitement,” she said as she headed for the door.
Diane went back to her museum office, hoping Andie had brought her new beau to introduce him, and half dreading such a meeting. But Andie wasn’t in the office when she got there. There was a note from her saying she was having a meeting with the exhibit designers. Diane called to make sure.
“Hi, Dr. Fallon,” said Andie’s voice, and Diane’s heart stopped pumping so hard.
“How are you?” she said, and immediately knew she sounded rather stupid. “Did you have a good time yesterday?” she added.
“We had a great time,” she said in a low voice, and Diane realized she was still in her meeting.
“Come by the office when you’re finished,” said Diane.
That must have sounded rather strange too. Of course Andie would come by the office when she finished. Diane sat down at her desk to get some work done, but her mind was too filled with the stranger and what he was up to. She had a mind to go find him. She could go to Security and take a look at the monitors to try to locate him in the museum.
No, she would speak with Andie first. Diane dreaded it. Andie probably wouldn’t be receptive to any caution Diane might offer about him. In fact, she would see him as heroic. After all, he wasn’t guilty of anything at the moment, except coming to Diane’s aid.
She was still deep in thought when someone knocked on her door. It opened and Neva and Mike walked in carrying a flat package.
Chapter 32
Neva was another member of Diane’s forensic team. She was sent to Diane from the Rosewood Police Department. A reluctant assignment for the young policewoman at first, but one Neva had grown into. When Diane discovered that Neva possessed considerable artistic skills, Diane introduced her to forensic art and taught her how to reconstruct a face from a skull.
Mike Seger was the curator of the geology collection and had built one of the best rock and mineral reference collections in the country. Students from several large university geology departments in the region had begun using the museum’s collection for research since he took over as curator. Mike also worked for a company that searched for and collected extremophiles, organisms that lived in the harshest environs on the planet. Mike and Neva were two of Diane’s caving partners and she enjoyed seeing them become a couple.
Diane rushed around her desk and hugged the two of them.
“I have missed you both,” she said.
They smiled broadly, returning the embrace.
“You look great,” said Diane, looking at each of them in turn. “Really great.”
From the relaxed look on their faces, they appeared well rested. Diane had feared they would be exhausted after such a busy trip. They actually looked energized by it.
Neva was wearing her brown hair a few inches past her shoulders with bangs across her forehead. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and didn’t need any with her tan face, large, dark eyes, and full lips. Mike looked as rugged as ever, with a deep tan and his well-toned muscles. The two of them grinned at Diane and gripped the package between them.
“What do you have here?” asked Diane.
“A gift,” said Neva, beaming. “I think you’ll like it. I hope you like it.”
“Well, let’s see what it is.” Diane gently began tearing the brown wrapping off the package. “This is gorgeous,” she said when the gift was exposed.
“I thought the lone wolf in your forensic office could use some company,” said Neva. “We took a lot of photographs. I bought this panoramic camera for the trip.” She gestured with her arms wide. “And you won’t believe the wonderful pictures we got.”
The package was a huge, wide, framed photograph of an expanse of savanna with brown grass, umbrella trees, and an orange sunset. Looking closer, Diane saw a family of lions in the grass.
“I love this,” said Diane, not taking her eyes off the photograph. “It’s beautiful. It’s enthralling.”
“I thought I would do a painting of one of the photos we took, to hang somewhere in the museum,” said Neva.
“I imagine you have lots that would be terrific in the mammal room,” said Diane, looking up at her. “When did you get back?”
“Three days ago in the United States. We made a few stops before coming home. Kendel’s still in New York. She’s going to wait for our cargo and arrange for shipment here, then visit some friends while she’s in New York,” said Neva. “Speaking of friends, I met Andie’s new friend. Quite a hunk. Have you met him?”
“Andie hasn’t introduced him yet,” said Diane, looking at the photograph, touching the nonglare glass with her fingertips, tracing the lions.
“But have you met him?” asked Neva.
Diane looked over at her. She stood there, eyes slightly narrowed, studying Diane. There was a time when only Frank and David noticed when she didn’t answer the exact question that was put to her. Now most of her crew could. Neva and Mike waited for an answer with bemused expressions.
“It’s a long story,” said Diane.
“I’m anxious to hear it,” said Neva. “Is Andie serious?”
“She just met him a couple of days ago,” said Diane. “But she’s grown quite fond of him in that time. Apparently lots of chemistry.”
“And you haven’t met him yet?” pushed Neva.
“Not yet. He’s been busy,” said Diane. She believed he had been avoiding her. Not surprising.
“You know, I feel a mystery here,” said Neva.
“You have no idea,” said Diane. Her cell phone saved her from answering further.
“Fallon,” she said.
“Diane, it’s David. I have some preliminary information for you.”
“That was quick.” She looked at the clock on the wall.
“Like I said-preliminary. I just thought you’d like to know what I’ve found so far,” he said.
“Yes, shoot,” she said. She walked around her desk and sat down with pen in hand. She pointed at the chairs. “Have a seat,” she said to Neva and Mike.
“You have visitors?” said David.
“Mike and Neva are back,” she said.
“Really?” David’s voice brightened. “Tell Neva to get her little butt over here and get to work. We need her.”
Diane relayed the message.
“Tell David I still have a few days left on my vacation,” she said, loud enough for David to hear.
“Yeah, right,” said David. “At least ask her and Mike to join us for dinner.”
Diane did, and the two of them accepted.
“Now, what do you have?” asked Diane.
“His name is William Steven Dugal,” said David. “Isn’t that the guy Andie is dating?” he asked. “You aren’t checking up on him, are you?”
“Yes. And I have good reason,” she said.
“Still, this can get a little dicey. I mean, if it were me. .” he said.
“What else do you have, or are you going to plead this as an ethics violation?” said Diane.
“No, I’m just trying to make sure I know what’s going on. He’s retired navy. I don’t have details yet. However, what flagged his prints was his license. He’s a private detective. Which, I’ll admit,
Diane went still for a moment.
