Perhaps Bryce had gotten rid of him. She took an elevator down to Jin’s DNA lab. She caught him com ing out the door.
‘‘Hey, boss, how are things?’’
‘‘A surprise a minute,’’ she said.
‘‘So I hear.’’ Jin shook his head. ‘‘You don’t look so bad. I got a girlfriend in theater. You want to try some theater makeup?’’
‘‘I think it gives me character,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Neva told me David resigned,’’ said Jin. ‘‘You know, I’m worried about him. He hasn’t been saying much lately. He just goes into his room and shuts the door.’’
‘‘I think he’ll be fine,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I have some bones for you to try to get some DNA out of. Please find some,’’ she said, handing him the samples.
‘‘The wood-chipper murder, right? Sure thing, boss.’’ He took the package. ‘‘If there is any DNA here, I’ll find it.’’
‘‘Thanks, Jin.’’
‘‘You tell me if you hear from David,’’ he said.
‘‘Actually, I did hear from him. He’s thinking about leaving town for a few days.’’
Jin was quiet a moment. ‘‘You think he’ll come back?’’
‘‘He asked about a job at the museum,’’ said Diane.
Jin grinned. ‘‘That’s good. Maybe he’s just chilling out.’’
Diane’s phone rang. She took it out of her pocket and looked at the display. It was Andie.
‘‘Andie,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Dr. Fallon, the mayor and a whole bunch of other people are here. They are sitting in my office.’’
Chapter 14
‘‘The week just gets better,’’ muttered Diane. ‘‘Andie, put them in my office, not the sitting room. Move more chairs in if you need them. Call Colin Prehoda and tell him what’s up. Don’t let them hear you. Offer them coffee. I’ll be right up.’’
‘‘Sounds serious, boss,’’ said Jin.
‘‘Serious, but possibly good.’’ Diane smiled. ‘‘Find me some DNA,’’ she said and took the stairs to the first floor.
She stopped in Andie’s office and gave her the re port she had written for Sheriff Canfield. She scribbled a note on it saying that Jin was going to try for some DNA.
‘‘Andie, fax this to Sheriff Canfield’s office,’’ she said and walked past Andie’s desk into her own office.
Spence Jefferies, the mayor of Rosewood, was sit ting in one of the comfortable chairs. Edgar Peeks, the new chief of police, sat in the other stuffed chair. Douglas Garnett, the chief of detectives, a man whom Diane had worked with successfully on many cases, sat in a straight-backed chair. Diane was surprised to see him there. One corner of his mouth tweaked when he saw her, and he briefly made eye contact. He looked thin to Diane, but it had been a while since she had seen him.
They all stood when she entered but sat back down quickly after they shook hands. She noticed that none had coffee. Diane took a seat behind her desk and surveyed the group.
Mayor Jefferies and Chief Peeks were both sharp dressers, sharper than Garnett, who was somewhat of a clothes horse. Diane noticed the pinky rings that Prehoda had mentioned.
The two men were very different in appearance. The mayor had light brown hair, dark eyes, and a lean face. His prominent nasal folds and rugged complex ion made him look older than his actual age. Peeks had dark hair, hazel eyes and that baby face. What they had in common, besides a good tailor, was meanlooking eyes—shark eyes, Neva would have called them—devoid of kindness.
‘‘What can I do for you?’’ she said.
‘‘You can explain this,’’ said Peeks.
The chief of police tossed a packet of folded papers onto her desk. It looked like a legal document. So the only niceties they were going to exchange with her were standing when she entered the room and shaking her hand. Diane picked up the papers and looked at them. Sure enough, Colin had been busy. Just as she was about to speak, she heard noises from Andie’s office.
The door opened and Colin came in carrying his own chair. He was a snappy dresser too. Diane was beginning to feel underdressed for the occasion in her plain navy pantsuit. Colin wore his boyish smile, one that had fooled many an opposing counsel. He turned his chair around and straddled it with his arms resting on the back.
‘‘This is Colin Prehoda,’’ said Diane. ‘‘He drew up the document you just handed me.’’
‘‘We’re acquainted with Mr. Prehoda,’’ said the mayor.
Diane was about to speak again when there was more commotion. This time it was Lloyd Bryce. He was also carrying his own chair.
‘‘I hope this is everyone, or we’ll have to go to the auditorium,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Now, why exactly have you come?’’ she asked again.
‘‘What’s this business about shutting down the crime lab?’’ said Peeks.
