The Night Killer

“Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder. And thanks for listening. It helped a lot,” said Andie.

“You’re welcome,” said Diane.

On the way to the door Andie stopped. “You know something, don’t you? If you had David look up Liam, then he found out a lot. I know how talented David is about finding out stuff. What is it you know?”

“Something private. Just because I have access to it doesn’t mean I have the right to tell it. I’d prefer to let him tell you,” said Diane.

“It can’t be bad,” said Andie, more to herself than to Diane.

“It’s not bad, just private,” she said.

Andie nodded.

They walked together out of the east office wing and through the lobby. The night lighting had already come on in the museum and the visitors were gone. Only staff remained. Diane spoke to the guard on duty in the lobby as they passed through. They walked through the Primate Room and through the door to the large central hallway that led to the restaurant. Diane locked the door behind her. The restaurant was open after the museum’s regular hours. It had its own entrance to the outside at the end of the hallway. Diane walked Andie out to the parking lot and watched her drive off in her car.

She was about to go back inside when Frank drove up and parked. He got out, walked over to her, and kissed her cheek.

“Was that Andie I saw leaving?” he asked. “How is she doing?”

Diane nodded. “Very hurt. But I think she’ll be fine.”

“You’re very sparkly tonight,” said Frank, looking at Diane’s ice blue silk blouse, rubbing a hand on her shoulder.

Diane laughed. “Andie’s T-shirt. It turns out the new museum T-shirts shed just a little of their glitter. Everyone’s starting to look like they got in a fight with Tinker Bell.”

“It looks lovely on you,” he said.

Diane linked her arm in his and they walked back into the building.

“I spoke with Reverend Springhaven,” said Frank. “He got us an invitation to visit Rendell First Baptist Church this Sunday. You still determined to go?”

“Yes,” Diane said. “I particularly want to speak with the Watson family members. Every time I find a motive that makes some sense for the Barre murders, there are also the Watson murders to consider, and it never works with them.”

The museum restaurant was a maze of brick archways that looked as if they belonged in a medieval library. The connecting archways created five chamberlike spaces, each containing five tables made from rough-hewn wood. The restaurant also had booths in arched brick alcoves lining the walls.

There was the subtle sound of low murmurs of patrons talking with one another in the flicker of candlelight.

Diane and Frank made their way to the back of the restaurant to where David and the others had put a couple of the tables together. In addition to David, Jin was there, as were Neva and Mike. Diane and Frank sat down in front of the iced tea David had already ordered for them.

“Sorry I’m so late,” said Diane.

“How’s Andie?” asked Neva. “She was so sad when she was with us.”

“Still sad. She really fell for Liam,” said Diane.

“So, Diane, David just updated us on the latest big event in your life while we were gone,” said Mike. “It left us speechless.”

The waitress came and they gave their orders. As they waited for their food, Neva, Mike, and Jin asked Diane several questions about the events surrounding the Barre and Watson murders and about Slick and Tammy. It turned out to be a good review for her of what had happened and what she knew, but Diane wasn’t sure she had any clearer understanding of it all. She was still stumped. She almost had too much information, but not enough of the right information. Maybe Sunday, she thought.

“Have you tested the paint transfer from my SUV?” Diane asked David.

“It’s from a 1997 red Chevy Blazer,” he said. “I’ve been in touch with Garnett. They haven’t found anything that fits the description. He’s in contact with the surrounding counties and said he’d call if they find anything. He has an APB out, but you know how that is. We’ve gone over your vehicle. Nothing new. I’m sorry I don’t have any information for you.”

“I didn’t really expect anything. It wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out to be stolen,” said Diane.

“Where do you want your SUV to go now?” asked David.

“Derk’s Garage,” said Diane. “I’m going to be paying for it myself. My insurance is already out of sight.”

“What happened with your SUV?” asked Neva.

Diane told them about the maniac who had played chicken with her.

“Oh my goodness!” said Neva. “Is it about the murders, you think?”

“I don’t know,” said Diane. “I don’t know much of anything.”

Diane was starting to get depressed. She wished Andie had come to dinner with them. She hated thinking of her being alone. But, then again, maybe some alone time was what she needed. Diane turned to David.

“I did get hold of Jonas, and he remembered what was in the cigar box I told you about from the Barres’ house.”

“The box you believe was taken by the killer,” said David.

“Yes. Jonas remembered the contents better than their kids did,” Diane said. She described the objects for David. “I think it must have been just a souvenir for the killer,” she said. “I can’t think of anything in it that would be worth stealing.”

“Jonas described one of the marbles as looking like confetti?” said David.

“Yes,” said Diane.

“Oh God. I’ll bet you have a marble database, don’t you?” said Neva.

“Doesn’t he have a database on everything?” said Jin.

“Yes,” said David, “I do have a database on marbles. I happen to have collected marbles at one time in my life, and I maintain an interest. And please, I’ve heard every joke, multiple times.”

David turned to Diane. “From the description, it may be a confetti mica marble. If it’s what I’m thinking of, it could be about a hundred and fifty years old.”

“Wow,” said Jin. “How much would it be worth?”

“Somewhere between five and ten thousand dollars,” David said.

Chapter 36

“Do you think that’s what the killer was after?” asked Mike. His frown showed skepticism. The ice clinked in his glass as he finished his iced tea and set the glass down on the table.

“Marbles?” said Neva. “That’s awful. Oh please, don’t let me ever be murdered for my marbles.”

“That would mean that whoever killed them knew what was in the box and the value of it,” said Jin. “Maybe the Barres didn’t even know they had something valuable.”

“And there’re the Watsons,” said David. “Did they have something valuable in their home that was spotted by the killer? We’re still missing something-a lot of somethings.”

That was the whole problem, thought Diane. She simply couldn’t find a motive that fit all the victims. The only one that made sense for both the Barres and the Watsons was their joint desire for land development, allowing for more progress in the county. That seemed a very weak motive-but people had been murdered for lesser reasons.

The waitress came with their meals and they settled into discussing Neva and Mike’s recent trip to Africa. It left Diane anxious to see all the photographs they took. It also left her wanting to drop the entire murder case. She would have, if she thought the authorities in Rendell County were up to the task.

Diane was awakened by Frank shaking her shoulder. She looked at the clock. It was early and he was already