‘‘About me?’’ said Diane.
‘‘He wanted to know how to unseat you as director of the museum.’’
‘‘That is so strange,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Isn’t it? I told him better men have tried and failed. He really didn’t know much about the museum. He mentioned something about going to the board of direc tors. I didn’t say anything. I thought I’d just let him see how that worked out for him.’’ Garnett laughed.
Diane couldn’t imagine what the mayor was think ing. Of course, the mayor who preceded Jefferies had tried to do the same thing, but for different reasons. He had wanted the land the museum was on—or thought he did.
‘‘So there are just two things you remember touching— the kitchen counter and the hall chest,’’ said Diane.
‘‘That’s it, I’m pretty sure. I left soon after. It wasn’t like he was going to invite me to share his nachos.’’ He looked at her quizzically for a moment. ‘‘I know that look on your face. What are you thinking?’’
‘‘It appears that the hall chest and kitchen counter were the only two places they dusted for prints,’’ said Diane.
It took a moment for a look of surprise to cross Garnett’s face.
‘‘They were only looking for my prints—Peeks must have told them where to look,’’ he said. ‘‘Who worked the crime scene? Not Neva?’’ His eyes clouded over.
‘‘No, it was Rikki and Bryce,’’ said Diane. ‘‘And probably Curtis Crabtree.’’
Diane stood up. ‘‘Don’t worry. I think we’ll get to the bottom of this soon.’’
‘‘No, I don’t....Not really,’’ he added.
Diane sat down again. ‘‘Tell me what you know,’’ she said.
‘‘The gun used in the killings was one that was used several years ago in a robbery. It should have been in the evidence room. Not many people have access to that room. Only the police.’’
She didn’t like where this was going. It wasn’t a good thing when all the suspects were policemen.
‘‘Did they find the gun itself?’’ she asked.
‘‘No,’’ said Garnett.
‘‘Was it the same gun that killed Edgar Peeks?’’ she asked.
‘‘I don’t know.’’
‘‘Anything else you need to tell me?’’ she asked.
‘‘I can’t think of anything . . . except that I usually need more evidence than what they have on me to lock someone up. You think Prehoda can get me out of here?’’
‘‘I don’t know. If he can overcome the drama of you being found standing over Peeks’ body,’’ she said.
‘‘I don’t know how many times I’ve heard perps say they’ve been set up. I’ve never believed them; not once,’’ Garnett said.
‘‘It does happen,’’ said Diane.
She knocked on the door and the guard came to take Garnett back to his cell.
Diane walked up to the squad room to speak with Janice. She needed to get Janice to take point on Garnett’s case. They somehow had to give Curtis Crabtree something else to do, and she wasn’t sure how to ac complish that.
Chapter 21
When Diane got to the squad room, Buford Monroe, the chief of police under the previous administration, was standing with Edward Van Ross, who was the presi dent of the city council of Rosewood—and Vanessa’s son. That’s why the city council hadn’t done anything yet, thought Diane. Edward was out of town and they were waiting for his return.
Behind Van Ross stood the former police commis sioner, who had also lost his job with the change in administrations. Jefferies said it was redundant to have a police chief and a police commissioner in a city the size of Rosewood and getting rid of the commissioner would save a huge salary. Diane had agreed with him about that. She still did. The commissioner had run for city council and won a seat. Standing there in front of the squad room with Edward Van Ross, he and Monroe both looked vindicated—like they wanted to say,
‘‘The council met today,’’ Edward Van Ross was saying when Diane arrived, ‘‘and appointed me acting mayor until we have a special election. As one of my first acts I have reinstated Buford Monroe as chief of police.’’
Diane looked around the room at the faces. Most were smiling, but there were a few who looked sullen— hired by Peeks, no doubt, they had pooled their fortunes with his; and now it looked like they had picked the wrong side. She wondered if Harve Delamore had been a Jefferies supporter. As she looked over the gathering, she noticed that Pendleton was smiling. Interesting. Maybe he would be willing to talk with her about how Bryce and company han dled the crime scenes.
‘‘I’m sure all of you will welcome Chief Monroe back and do all you can to help during this crisis,’’ continued Van Ross.
Diane hoped he wouldn’t talk long. She wanted to have a word with Monroe. She spotted Colin Prehoda standing with his back to the wall. He nodded when she made eye contact and pointed to a bulky enve lope he had in his hand. She worked her way over to him.
‘‘I finally got the security tape,’’ he whispered to her. ‘‘It was found in Peeks’ apartment, of all places. Janice discovered it, thankfully.’’
‘‘Have you looked at it yet?’’ Diane whispered.
‘‘No, I thought we’d go to your office or mine and have a look,’’ he said.
