“Yes. Communication between individuals, organizations, or nations,” said Jonas. “You’ll find it’s the first definition in the dictionary. It’s kind of overshadowed by the second definition. Marcella likes the surprise aspect of using the first definition.”
“I see,” said Hanks. “What was the argument about?”
“Let’s see. I believe the topic of discourse was the
“That seems pretty basic. Are you telling me you couldn’t even agree on a definition of your own subject matter?” said Hanks.
“It’s an academic thing,” said Jonas.
Diane could see he was getting annoyed with Hanks.
“It’s a common issue with all us archaeologists, one that will never be resolved because we will never completely agree. However, if you think this or any discussion I’ve had with Dr. Payden in any way would drive me to attack her, you’re just being plain silly. Marcella loves academic discussions of all kinds.” Jonas looked at his watch. “I’ll have to leave soon to pick up her daughter at the airport. She and her husband are flying in from Arizona today.”
“Do you know who might have done this to her?” asked Hanks.
“No. Marcella is a nice person whom everyone likes. I can’t imagine anyone doing this to her.”
“There is a large hutch in her living room. Do you know what was in it?” asked Hanks.
“Several pieces of pottery,” said Jonas.
“Indian pottery?” asked Hanks.
“Hanks didn’t go into the house,” said Diane. “How does he know about the hutch?”
“He said he was going to call David Goldstein to see what kind of things your crew found,” said Garnett. “I’m sure he called before he began the interview.”
Diane wondered why Hanks hadn’t called her, but she didn’t say anything.
“… pottery she made herself,” Jonas was saying. “It does look very much like pottery from archaeological digs. She experimented with various clays and tempering material. She always signed it to be sure no one ever acquired one of her pots and tried to pawn it off as an authentic prehistoric artifact.”
“Did she have any valuable artifacts in the house?” asked Hanks.
“Valuable to archaeologists as objects of study. She had a few vessels, but as to monetary value… to tell you the truth, I really don’t know what the market is for stolen artifacts.”
“There’s a desk in the living room that had been emptied. Do you know what was in it?”
“Nothing. She found the desk in one of the sheds out back of her house and was going to refinish it,” said Jonas.
“You said that when you found her she spoke,” said Hanks. He looked down at his notes. “I believe you said she said, ‘Tiger after all loose moment.’ Is that right?”
“Yes,” said Jonas. “That’s what it sounded like she said.”
“Do you know what that means?” asked Hanks.
Jonas shook his head. “I don’t have any idea.”
“When you drove up, did you see anyone else there or anything out of the ordinary?” asked Hanks.
Jonas shook his head and looked as if he were trying to remember. “I stopped at the gate-or that arch thing. My headlights shined in the house and I could see the paintings on the wall over the sofa, but I didn’t see her, or anyone. I went up to the door and knocked. She didn’t answer. I waited and knocked again. She didn’t come to the door. I knew she was expecting me. The door was locked, but she’d given me a key to look in on her place when she was away. I opened the door, called her name, and went in.”
He stopped and closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “She was there on the floor and there was blood. I thought she had fallen and hit her head. I called 911 and stayed with her. I talked to her and she came to briefly. That’s when she spoke. It was hard to hear. I may have gotten it wrong.” Jonas hesitated a moment. “Later when I found out someone had attacked her, I tried to remember if I saw or heard anything. I just don’t remember. Everything was fine until I found her on the floor.”
“Thank you for coming down. Please don’t leave town,” said Hanks.
“I have to go to the Atlanta airport to pick up her daughter, Paloma, and her husband,” said Jonas.
“Just make sure you come back,” said Hanks.
Hanks ended the interrogation. It wasn’t as bad as Diane had feared. And it was informative. She found out what was in the empty hutch. If the thieves thought they were valuable artifacts, then they were bound to be disappointed. It was interesting to discover where the desk came from too. Apparently, Hanks didn’t find the note on the back of the drawer important, for he didn’t ask about it. It was also interesting that Marcella had spoken. Diane couldn’t imagine what the words meant either.
Jonas stood up, then sat down again. “I just remembered, Marcella told me earlier she found something she wanted to talk to Dr. Fallon about. She didn’t say what it was. I don’t know whether it is related to what happened to her. What with Diane being the museum director and the crime lab director, it could be something about museum business or something from the dark side.”
“The dark side?” asked Hanks.
“It’s what we in the museum call the crime lab,” he said.
Hanks’ back was to Diane, but she could see the round of his cheek change. Apparently he had smiled.
“Would she have mentioned it in a note or diary?” asked Hanks.
“Most of Marcella’s notes were about her work. I don’t know if she kept a diary,” said Jonas.
“Tell the daughter I would like to speak with her when she is up to it,” said Hanks.
“I will,” said Jonas. He rose again and walked out the door.
Hanks turned around and stared at the two-way mirror for a moment. Diane thanked Garnett for allowing her to watch and hurried out to catch up with Jonas. On the way to the police station she had called her museum assistant, Andie, and asked her to make hotel reservations for Paloma and her husband. She needed to tell him.
“Jonas,” said Diane when she caught up with him at the door.
“Diane. I’m glad you’re here,” he said. They walked out together. “Were you behind the mirror? Do they really do that? It’s not just a TV thing?”
“Yes. I was there,” she said.
“Then you heard the questions he asked. Does he really think I had anything to do with this beastly thing?”
“If I had been the one to find her, I would be the one answering questions,” said Diane. “It’s not uncommon that whoever finds a victim becomes a person of interest. It’s just procedure.”
“It’s not pleasant,” said Jonas.
“It’s not supposed to be. It’s just the way it is. I wanted to tell you that I made Paloma reservations at the Latimeer.”
“That’s pretty expensive. Paloma and her husband aren’t rich,” said Jonas.
“The museum is picking it up. I spoke with her today. She called the house. She wanted to stay there, but I thought with the blood on the floor and all the fingerprint powder, it would be easier if they stayed closer to town. It’s also near the hospital.”
“That’s good of you,” he said, taking her hand and squeezing it. “I’m sure Marcella will appreciate it,” he said.
“Drive safely,” said Diane.
Jonas nodded and got in his car. It wasn’t until he drove away that she realized what he had said in the interrogation room about seeing the paintings over the sofa. When she and her crew were in the house, there weren’t any paintings over the sofa.
Chapter 8
Diane walked back into the police station, past the reception area, past the detectives’ desks, to Garnett’s
