Dead Guilty

‘‘What? Are you taking this seriously?’’

‘‘I am. But since we ‘cooked’ nothing up, I’m having a hard time following. What exactly did he say that brought you here?’’

‘‘I can’t remember his exact words. He said some diamonds were found among Raymond’s possessions and he wanted to know where he got them and did I have any ideas. It was the way he asked if I had any ideas. I mean, would Garnett know a real diamond if he stepped on one?’’

Diane was trying to measure what exactly to tell her in terms of what Garnett might have revealed to her. She didn’t want to give anything away, but if he had mentioned the diamonds to Lynn, then he didn’t mind her knowing about them.

‘‘Diamonds were found among Raymond’s things, and they are real. One of the geologists here at the museum verified that.’’

‘‘Oh. Garnett said they’re valuable.’’

‘‘Yes, they are. Would you like to see them?’’

‘‘Well, yes, that would be interesting. If I’m sus pected of stealing them, I’d like to see what it is I was supposed to have stolen.’’

‘‘Did he really accuse you?’’

‘‘He kept asking if maybe Raymond found them in Chris Edwards’ clothes.’’

‘‘Chris Edwards wasn’t wearing any clothes,’’ said Diane.

‘‘Don’t think I didn’t tell him that. He suggested that they may have been hidden in his shorts. Now, I ask you. I would have noticed if Raymond found any thing in Chris Edwards’ tighty whiteys. Then he asked me about the clothes on the hanging bodies. Well, I told him you were there for the first two, and there was nothing in Red’s clothing.’’

Diane took Lynn to the second floor, and for the second time today she took the diamonds from the safe. She set them down on a table in the lab and opened the box and eyed Lynn closely.

‘‘They don’t look like diamonds.’’

‘‘They’re uncut,’’ said Diane.

‘‘They look large.’’

‘‘They are.’’

‘‘And these were in Raymond’s things?’’

‘‘Yes.’’

‘‘Oh, Raymond, what were you into?’’ she whispered.

Diane put the diamonds back in the safe and es corted Lynn to the lobby. By the time they got there, Lynn’s anger had abated and she was all sugar again. Diane had about decided that the next flare-up, she wasn’t going to coddle her anymore. As she opened the door for Lynn, Diane’s cell rang.

Finally, she thought, as she looked at the display. Garnett had called back.

‘‘John Doe is dead,’’ he said, before she could tell him about the Hooten cousins. ‘‘It looks like someone killed him.’’

Chapter 41

‘‘What happened?’’ Diane asked Garnett when she arrived at the hospital.

They sat in the waiting room near the critical care unit. Sheriff Braden was twirling his hat in his hands, not saying much.

‘‘Apparently, someone came in and slit his throat,’’ said Garnett. ‘‘The nurse had just left to check on another patient. She remembers an orderly. It must have happened quickly. When she got back, he was bleeding out. They tried to save him, but he had lost too much blood. And what with his other injury, well, he didn’t make it.’’

‘‘This is strange.’’

‘‘That’s one word to describe it,’’ said Garnett.

‘‘Somebody is mighty desperate for something.’’ ‘‘If we can identify the victims,’’ said Braden, ‘‘I can

close this damn case. Are you any closer to finding

out who they are?’’ he asked Garnett.

Garnett looked annoyed, and she guessed that he

and Braden had had a disagreement. Cobber’s Wood

was the only one of the crime scenes in Braden’s juris

diction, and she got the idea he probably didn’t care

if Garnett solved his cases or not, even if they were

all related.

‘‘I may know who they are. I’ve been trying to call,’’

said Diane.

This got Braden’s attention.

‘‘The sheriff and I were called back here as soon as

we got back to our offices,’’ said Garnett. ‘‘They made