Dead Guilty

life is going to funerals?’’
‘‘That’s them. Mrs. Odell was the one who broke into my apartment looking for a cat, and I almost clobbered her with my cornbread pan.’’
‘‘Maybe you should move.’’
Diane laughed. ‘‘You’re probably right.’’ She col lapsed on the couch. ‘‘I’m so glad to be home. It was a rough day at the office.’’
Frank sat down and pulled her against him, cuddling her in his arms. ‘‘I don’t think I’ve ever been so frightened—listening over the phone, not knowing what was going on.’’
‘‘How did you call the police?’’
‘‘I used my car phone. So you think that was the man who’s been calling?’’
‘‘I don’t know. I’m afraid it might be.’’
‘‘Why is he fixated on you?’’
‘‘He may be fixated on all of us who had anything to do with the Cobber’s Wood victims, or . . .’’ Diane rubbed her eyes with her finger. ‘‘I don’t know. I don’t know what the hell is going on.’’
‘‘What’s Garnett doing about these calls?’’
‘‘They were supposed to have someone outside my building, but they apparently slipped up.’’
‘‘You mean, there were supposed to be policemen posted in front of your house? Dammit, where were they?’’
‘‘I don’t know.’’ What Diane wanted to do was for get about the whole thing for just a few hours. ‘‘Where’s Star tonight?’’
‘‘At a concert with a friend. She’s spending the night with her after the concert.’’
‘‘On a school night?’’
‘‘It’s summer.’’
‘‘Of course it is. God, I’m losing track of time. You’re letting her go to a concert? Aren’t you nervous?’’
‘‘Nervous doesn’t quite describe it. All I can think of is all those drugs floating around and how vulnera ble she is.’’
Diane’s back was against Frank’s chest and his face was close to her ear. His breath was warm and smelled like cinnamon.
‘‘Her friend’s a good kid and I know her parents. I let Star go to a concert last month. She checked in with me when she arrived and was home on time, so I’m letting her go again. I don’t know. In another year, she’ll be old enough to strike out on her own. I’m just trying to give her some experience being responsible, but I feel completely out of my depth.’’
Diane wove her fingers into his and relaxed a bit, nestling further against him. ‘‘She seems to be doing well.’’
‘‘Most of the time. We have some pretty big dis agreements. Cindy helps. She’s good with Star. She lets Star stay with her and her husband when I’m away. It’s good for Kevin. It’s like having a big sister.’’ He moved his arms from around her and stood up, pulling her with him. ‘‘Let me fix you something. Have you eaten?’’
‘‘At the museum. I bought Mike dinner tonight.’’
Frank raised his eyebrows. ‘‘Mike. That’s...’’
‘‘The geologist.’’
‘‘You bought him dinner?’’
‘‘He gave me some information about diamonds.’’
‘‘He doesn’t get a salary for that?’’
‘‘This was after hours.’’
‘‘Okay, this just gets better. This is the guy who’s got a thing for you?’’
‘‘Yes.’’
‘‘So you admit it now?’’
‘‘He admitted it.’’
‘‘I see.’’
‘‘It’s not serious. I believe it’s just the challenge. I told him that I was not only seeing someone else, I was his boss and old enough to be his mother, though I didn’t put it quite like that.’’
‘‘Only if you had him when you were twelve. That’s not that big an age difference.’’
‘‘It is to me. I thought you were going to fix me something. I could use a cool glass of wine when I get out of the shower. There’s some white zinfandel in the refrigerator.’’
Frank put his arms around her. ‘‘You doing okay?’’
‘‘I’m still shaking...and praying that this was just a random act of violence. Frank, I don’t know how to handle that guy. It’s like he wants to talk to me, but he won’t say anything. And now this. Garnett said he hired a profiler.’’
‘‘Do you know who?’’
Diane shook her head. ‘‘Some consultant who used to work for the FBI. I hope he’s good. We need some one to make some sense out of all this. I sure can’t.’’

Chapter 29
    Her car looked worse in the light of day than it had that evening under the streetlight. She shook her head as the tow truck drove off with it.
    ‘‘I don’t think I’ll be able to have that fixed,’’