Scattered Graves

people leaving the museum restaurant.

Diane unlocked a door and ducked into the primate section to avoid being noticed by anyone she knew. The room had an eerie feel in the dark with only the foot lighting. The Neanderthal figures looked even more real in the dark shadows.

‘‘Are you going to be all right?’’ Mike asked.

‘‘Fine. David will be fine too. How about you? Is that a new scrape on the side of your face?’’ she asked, deflecting any talk about the massacre.

‘‘Frostbite. I got it in the ice caves. I have to tell you, ice caves are among the most beautiful places on earth, but I really hate them.’’

‘‘Don’t they have more experienced people with ice caves . . . ? I mean, that isn’t your thing,’’ said Diane.

‘‘We had ice cave experts doing the climb too. I didn’t really have to do that much. I wanted the expe rience. But now that I’ve had it, I much prefer the regular old caves we explore,’’ he said. ‘‘Though I have to say, the volcano expedition several months ago was interesting.’’

They crossed over to the east wing lobby. Two of her security guards were on duty. Diane greeted them as she walked past.

‘‘You got a phone call from Lloyd Bryce,’’ said one of the guards. He grinned. ‘‘He said you locked his guard in the west wing?’’

Diane stopped. ‘‘I did no such thing. Mr. Shipman has several egresses to choose from if he wants to leave. If Mr. Bryce calls again, I’m not here.’’

‘‘Sure thing, Dr. Fallon.’’

Diane left Mike in the lobby on his way to pick up Neva to take her to a late dinner. Diane went to her office and called Frank to tell him she would be home soon and that she would tell him all about her latest adventure.

Home, she thought as she hung up. She still hadn’t made up her mind whether to settle in with Frank or to get her own place. She wished she could do both. She sat in her chair listening to the water fountain on her desk. The bubbling, flowing sound was soothing.

Diane didn’t feel like she had just won a major bat tle. She thought she would feel more jubilant now that the museum had a way to reclaim all that space in the west wing and rid itself of a growing problem. She sat there feeling a little sad, not unlike the way she had felt when the chief of police and the mayor had re placed her. It had hurt more than she let on, more than she had told anyone, even Frank. In truth, she loved the crime lab and she had enjoyed it being in the museum. She knew Vanessa had too.

Vanessa Van Ross was the real power behind the museum. She was old Rosewood going back several generations. She had money and she had power—but not enough power to change the new mayor’s mind. Vanessa wasn’t aware that Diane knew she had gone down to the mayor’s office after he fired her to talk him out of it. It must have been an odd feeling for Vanessa—being turned down. It didn’t happen often.

Diane got up, put on her jacket, and turned out the lights. She walked through Andie’s office and opened the door to leave. Neva and Mike were standing there ready to knock. Neva was dressed in jeans and a short, lambskin-lined suede jacket and gloves. It must be get ting colder outside, thought Diane.

‘‘Well, hi,’’ Diane said. ‘‘Did you forget some thing?’’

Mike shook his head. ‘‘Neva wanted to talk to you,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s David,’’ said Neva. ‘‘Did you know he re signed today?’’

Chapter 13

‘‘Resigned?’’ said Diane. ‘‘When?’’

Neva shrugged. ‘‘I just know he left a letter on

Bryce’s desk. I’m really worried about him. He hasn’t

been himself lately,’’ she said. Her dark brown eyes

looked moist. She ran her fingers through her honey

brown hair, but her bangs fell back in her eyes. ‘‘Come in,’’ said Diane.

Neva frowned at the sight of Diane’s face, but she

didn’t say anything. Probably knew that Diane was

tired of people noticing.

Diane turned on the light in Andie’s office. Mike

and Neva sat on the sofa; Diane sat on a chair in the

small sitting area in the corner of the office. The

cottage-style stuffed furniture with its floral design and

matching rag rug of pink, blue, and green were pretty

and tranquil. It made Diane feel like she should be

entertaining Peter Rabbit’s mother. She guessed that

was what Andie had in mind.

‘‘He hasn’t been the same since you left the crime