Dead Guilty

interview on TV last night,’’ Mike said
‘‘Last night? Interview?’’
‘‘About the bodies in the woods.’’
‘‘I didn’t give an interview.’’
‘‘It looked like file footage taken at the official opening of the crime lab. You talked about justice, the objectivity of evidence, the evil of murder—’’
‘‘Great. My mailbox will be filled with more com plaints about the crime lab being in the museum.’’
A handful of people—including a few on her board—objected to having something as tawdry as a crime lab in the pristine learning environment of the museum, and they liked to E-mail her about it, having somehow gotten her private E-mail address.
From the look of her mail, she was right. Amid Email from various members of her staff was some from people she recognized as dissenters.
‘‘I have photographs of the model in progress,’’ Mike said. ‘‘Of the Journey to the Center of the Earth exhibit.’’
‘‘Have you shown it to Kendel?’’
‘‘Yes. But since it was your idea...’’
Mike’s light brown eyes glittered with what looked to Diane like mischief. She processed her E-mail as Mike laid out photographs of the model he and the exhibit designers were constructing.
There was a message from a man who lamented that everywhere he turned there was forensics—books, mov ies, TV networks, learning channels, and darn it all, now his museum. And an E-mail from a woman who insisted Diane resign rather than serve two masters—the sublime and the grotesque. Another one began with something about an eye for an eye, and what did a museum director know about evil? And several wanted her to include the crime lab on the museum tour. She hesitated a moment, wondering whether to forward the messages to Andie for reply, or simply delete. She deleted all of them.
Mike was enthusiastic as he arranged the photos.
‘‘It’ll look just like they’re descending through lay ers of the earth. It will be especially cool when they get to the fossil layer.’’
‘‘This is what I had in mind,’’ she said. ‘‘I like it.’’
‘‘I thought perhaps we could discuss it over dinner sometime.’’
‘‘If the exhibit designer would like to, you don’t need my permission. You can meet anywhere you want.’’
Mike grinned broadly. For a moment she thought his teeth actually sparkled.
He leaned forward with his forearms on her desk. ‘‘That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.’’
‘‘No?’’
‘‘I thought you and I could discuss it.’’
‘‘I haven’t the time or the inclination to microma nage the exhibits. Most of my people know their jobs. I like to leave them alone.’’
‘‘All right, I can handle that. How about going cav ing?’’ He gave her a one-sided dimpled smile and pulled a folded paper from his shirt pocket and handed her a list. ‘‘These are some good caves to start with. Some of us from the Bartram Caving Club’s been to all of them.’’
Diane read the list. Blowing Cave, Climax Caverns, Glory Hole Caverns, Kingston Saltpeter Cave Pre serve. She cocked an eyebrow. ‘‘You’re kidding.’’
‘‘What?’’ He took the list and studied it for several seconds before he burst out laughing. ‘‘I didn’t name them.’’
‘‘Which one do you suggest we start with?’’
‘‘Glory Hole Cavern’s really beautiful but not a lot of fun for someone who hasn’t had much experience. Didn’t you say one of your crime crew wants to come along?’’
‘‘Neva Hurley. She’s visited caves as a tourist, and a few as an explorer, but she doesn’t have much experience.’’
‘‘Climax is a good cave. Great geology. Lots of fos sils. The front rooms are pretty easy. It gets harder farther in.’’
‘‘Where is it?’’
‘‘Near the Florida border.’’
‘‘Anything closer?’’
‘‘There is a cave I’ve been interested in visiting.’’ He stuffed the list back in his pocket. ‘‘It’s not easy to get the owner to allow people in. It’s a big cave and not too hard, I’ve heard. Some of the deeper rooms and tunnels are for experienced cavers. It also has some good geology. It’s only twenty miles from here.’’
‘‘Do you think you could get permission?’’
‘‘Yeah, I think so. A guy in my caving club is tight with the man who manages the property. We’ll have to take him.’’
‘‘That’s fine. Do you know if it’s been mapped?’’
‘‘Some of the tunnels, but I haven’t seen the maps. You thinking