Scattered Graves

way. He looked as forlorn as David.

‘‘I thought I would come see what you guys were

doing,’’ said Izzy. ‘‘Evie’s at one of her meetings. I

heard about Rikki’s confession.’’

‘‘Come in and sit down,’’ said Diane. ‘‘We just or

dered from the restaurant. It should be here in a min

ute. Why don’t you call down for something?’’ ‘‘I had a milk shake on the way over. I might order

me a hamburger.’’ Instead of going to the phone, he

sat down on the sofa.

Diane went over and hugged David. ‘‘I’m here, and

I really think they would have had a hard time killing

me. Many have tried and failed,’’

‘‘Is that supposed to be funny?’’ he said. ‘‘Yes. You mean it wasn’t?’’ she said.

‘‘Not in the least.’’

The moment was interrupted by the arrival of their

dinner. Izzy placed an order for a hamburger and

Diane gave the waiter a tip while the others were

setting the food out on the table.

‘‘I really understand you, David,’’ said Izzy as they

were putting chairs around Diane’s table.

David smiled grimly. ‘‘It was just my turn to tirade.

Jin’s been doing it all day because he missed the

cyberghost.’’

They told Izzy about the reappearance of the ghost

to Jonas Briggs, the archaeologist.

‘‘So he stayed on, did he?’’ said Izzy. ‘‘Can’t say as

I blame him.’’

Izzy was trying to be lighthearted, but Diane could

see he too was feeling stinging anger at Jefferies and

his buddies. All of them, all their eyes looked trou

bled. She understood. To think that there was some

one out there plotting against her, plotting to kill her,

and she didn’t know it, wouldn’t have known it until

it was perhaps too late. How do you guard against

things you don’t know? How do you know to fight

them? It was frightening and infuriating. Diane agreed

with David. It was like the man who massacred their

friends. Just like him.

‘‘So, are we going to find Jefferies’ and Peeks’ kill ers or are we going to call them misdemeanor homi

cides and go after some really bad guys?’’ said Jin. ‘‘Of course we are going to find the killers,’’ said

Diane. ‘‘The city needs some closure on this. We need

to demonstrate that we are not to be messed with.

And we need to put an end to this dirty business. Not

for Jefferies and Peeks, but for all of us. Killing is not

how we solve our problems. That’s the whole point.’’ ‘‘You’re not going to give a speech, are you?’’ said

David. ‘‘Like The Grapes of Wrath,or The Fountain

head, because you really aren’t as good as Henry

Fonda or Gary Cooper.’’

‘‘That was it. That was my speech,’’ said Diane,