Dead Guilty

absence of this director, we all came up with the idea of meeting in her museum.’’
Diane nodded. ‘‘At least I would be able to attend the meetings if we met here.’’
‘‘That’s a yes, then?’’
‘‘We can meet in the main auditorium or one of the geology rooms. It would mean that you will have to meet the group at the door to let them in. I can alert the security staff to watch out for latecomers.’’
‘‘Great. I think the earth science room would be a good place to meet. We already have that small auditorium where we show the Volatile Earth series.’’
Diane hadn’t realized she was as hungry as she was until her meal arrived. She was going to have to re member to eat more. She took several bites of her fillet and baked potato before she said anything else.
‘‘I really am sorry I haven’t been able to attend more meetings.’’
‘‘I can understand, with two full-time jobs. By the way, we do have a new member. One of your staff from your other job. Neva Hurley.’’
‘‘I’m glad she joined. I encouraged her to.’’
‘‘She seemed to feel a little out of place, but I think it’s because she’s the least experienced member. I have the plan for the cave we’re visiting. It’s a great cave, really. There’s an easy way and a wild way through it. I thought we’d start with the easy way and later take a trip back and explore the wild part of the cave. That section has to be explored on rope, so it’s not for beginners.’’
Diane ate and listened to Mike talk about the cave they were going to visit. She heard the low tone of her phone ring. She fished it out of her purse and answered without looking at the display.
‘‘I thought maybe we could finish our talk. I hope I’m not interrupting your dinner,’’ the voice on the phone said.

Chapter 27
    ‘‘Are you watching me?’’
    The interior darkness of the restaurant that had been as comfortable as a familiar blanket now closed in around her. She searched the faces of the diners nearest her, but all she could see was flickering faces illuminated by the table candles. The diners just be yond were merely shadows with spots of light, the faces swallowed up by the darkness. Diane fished a pad and pen out of her purse and began scribbling a note to Mike, who looked at her, frowning.
    Frank? he mouthed.
Diane shook her head.
‘‘I’m not a maniac,’’ the voice said. The sound was
    urgent—as in ‘‘please believe me.’’ ‘‘It’s around a lot of people’s dinnertime. I thought you might be eating.’’ That sounded more rational.
    Diane handed Mike the note and watched his eyes widen and jaw drop as he read it in the candlelight. He jumped from his seat and walked out of the restaurant.
    ‘‘What exactly do you want?’’ asked Diane. ‘‘I told you. I want you to understand.’’
‘‘You say that, but you never get to the point. What
    is it that you want me to understand?’’
‘‘That the law doesn’t always work. Sometimes it can’t work. Sometimes the terrible things people do aren’t against the so-called law.’’ His voice was getting louder and his words were coming faster. The rational ity that he managed to grasp a moment ago was turn ing to a panicked anger.
    ‘‘Okay. I understand that in theory. Can you give me an example?’’
He hesitated so long, Diane thought he had hung up, then he spoke in a calm voice. ‘‘An example?’’
‘‘An example of a terrible thing people can do that isn’t against the law.’’
He paused for a long moment. ‘‘Oh, I could give you a hundred examples. Gossip comes to mind—and bullying, to name just two.’’
‘‘There are legal remedies to both of those.’’
‘‘Right. Not when you’re in school. Besides, legal remedies are expensive. For most of us, it’s a choice between a so-called legal remedy and a roof over our head. There’s no legal remedies for normal people.’’
‘‘So sometimes you have to make your own reme dies. Murder seems a harsh remedy for gossip and bullying.’’
‘‘Who said anything about murder?’’
‘‘You did. This conversation started from you ob jecting to my calling all murders evil.’’
He chuckled softly. ‘‘Yes, you’re right. I did. And you’re right that killing is too harsh for my examples, but they were just examples. It’s what you asked for.’’
‘‘Then perhaps I wasn’t specific enough. Give me a good example of a justified killing.’’
‘‘I have to go