“They will find out anyway, but the knowledge will be passed on in whispers behind your back. Making it public knowledge takes the power away from gossipers. When you talk to people about it, sprinkle in some humor here and there. People react favorably to people who can laugh at themselves in the direst situations.”
“What could possibly be funny about any of this?” said Susan.
“I don’t know,” said her mother. She tried to eat a few more bites of her food, but ended up putting down her fork. She looked at Diane. “You mean something like, ‘I had to leave before I could get my prison tattoo’?”
Diane laughed out loud. “That’s funny.”
Neither of her parents was known for their sense of humor, and her mother had made a joke. Susan and the others laughed, too. Diane was relieved to see it.
None of them did justice to Glenda’s terrific meal, and all of them apologized to her. Susan and Gerald went out on the terrace to talk. Diane sat in the living room visiting with her parents, trying to steer clear of all the argument traps she usually fell into. That was made easier because both of them were more subdued in their opinions today.
Then her mother said, “You know, dear, Alan is still very fond of you.”
Diane started to open her mouth to give some sort of noninflammatory reply, like
“Excuse me.” She looked at the display. “It’s the museum. I need to take this.”
It was actually David. Diane walked into another room and flipped up her phone to answer.
“David, hello.”
“Sorry to bother you at your parents’ home.”
“No bother.” She felt like giving him a raise for getting her away from her family. “You called at a very fortuitous moment. Did you get my e-mail? It was rather abbreviated because I did it by phone.”
“Yes, I’m getting on it. The reason I called is to tell you that the crime lab and your osteology lab were broken into. They stole several things out of the crime lab, including a couple of microscopes and some of Caver Doe’s things. They also stole the skeleton from England that was in your bone lab.”
Diane’s face flushed with anger-not only at the thieves, but at her security guards. How could they let this happen? “When?” she asked.
“Last night around three A.M.”
“I’ll leave here as soon as I can make arrangements.”
“That’ll be a relief. I don’t like cutting your visit short, but frankly, we’ve suddenly got bodies piling up.”
Diane told her parents that there was an emergency at the crime lab and she had to get back.
“Oh, no,” pleaded her mother, “With everything that’s happened, couldn’t you stay a little longer? I’ve just gotten to see you after all this time. We haven’t really had time to visit. I’m still so-”
“Surely, Diane,” said her father, “someone else can handle matters for a few days. We need you here with us right now.”
Diane could feel her guilt index rising. “I’m sorry to leave sooner than I expected. But with the authority I have at the museum also comes the responsibility. Something very serious has happened involving a break-in at the crime lab and the loss of evidence entrusted to me. I simply have to get back to take charge of the investigation.”
“But what about your mother?” asked her father.
“Daniel Reynolds will do everything that needs to be done. It’s all legal procedures and paperwork now, and I’m no help with that. She’s in the best of hands. And Susan is right next door. She was a big help when we were at the lawyer’s office.” That wasn’t exactly true, but complimenting her sister was bound to get her some credits with them.
“You don’t have to leave right this minute, do you?” asked her mother.
“No. I’ll stay tonight and leave tomorrow morning on the first available flight.”
“Well, that’s something, at least,” said her mother. By the tone in her voice, Diane could tell she was hurt, and frankly, Diane couldn’t blame her. It was callous to leave so soon after her ordeal. But Diane had to see about the crime lab and the museum. She thought about asking them to come with her and visit, but dismissed that idea. She wouldn’t have time to spend with them, and that would also hurt their feelings. There was no way to win.
“I’ll drive you to the airport in the morning,” said Susan.
Considering the condition everyone was in, Diane might as well have gone back to Georgia that afternoon. Despite everyone’s wanting to hear about her mother’s experience, Iris was simply too exhausted after her ordeal to carry on a conversation. She kept dozing off and finally went up to her bedroom shortly after dark.
Diane’s father was fidgety, worrying about her mother, and didn’t seem to know what to do with himself. He appeared to be blaming himself for not being able to help her mother sooner, while not really understanding what had happened or why. He seemed very concerned that he was somehow responsible.
Susan and Gerald were distracted by their own problem that needed to be resolved, and they made their excuses and left while Diane’s mother was napping.
The only absolutely positive event of the evening was that Diane was saved from having to see Alan again. He was uncharacteristically absent.
When she and Susan pulled away from the house the next morning, Diane’s mother and father stood on the steps and waved good-bye to her. Her father stood with his arm around her mother’s shoulders, trying hard to be strong. Her mother had tears in her eyes and leaned her head against her father’s chest.
On the way to the airport, Susan told her that Gerald had been easier to talk to about “the event,” as she called it. Diane must have had some influence with him. And probably for the first time in her life, Susan expressed gratitude. Diane was surprised that she could have a positive influence on the family. That alone would have made the trip worthwhile.
Susan was as disturbed by Alan’s behavior as Diane. “Do you think he’s flipped out?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Just keep an eye on Mother and Dad.”
“That’ll be hard. Alan is in and out so much. Gerald thinks Alan would like for Mother and Dad to take both of us out of their will.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” The idea chilled Diane. She knew her parents had a lot of money. For someone like Alan, money was a tremendous temptation. “That’s scary, but they would never disinherit us-you, anyway,” said Diane.
“I don’t think he would actually do anything to them. Do you?” asked Susan. “Threaten them in some way?”
“Probably not. But I’m glad though that you and Gerald live next door,” she said.
“Me too.”
Susan dropped Diane off at the curb, and she rushed to the ticket counter with just enough time to get her ticket, pass through security and catch her flight.
Chapter 26
No matter what was awaiting her at the museum, Diane was relieved to be home. She had taken the airport limo service from the Atlanta airport to Rosewood and a taxi to her apartment, arriving there before ten A.M. When she walked in the door, she felt like kissing the floor. Instead, she took a quick shower, got dressed and called Kendel.
“I’m in Rosewood. David called me about the breakin. Is anything missing from the museum?”
“Good to have you back,” said Kendel. “No, the museum proper is just fine. I had security double-check everything here, and nothing seems to have been taken.”
“I’ll be in shortly and you can brief me on anything I need to know.”
Diane hung up, then called David and told him she was coming in. He told her that Chief Garnett and the head of security for the crime lab were coming over to meet with him.
