Dead Guilty

apartment. What was she missing?
‘‘Diane.’’ Jonas’ voice penetrated her thoughts. ‘‘What do you think?’’
Diane hesitated a second, recalling the conversation that had managed to filter through her own thoughts. ‘‘I don’t . . .’’ She saw Kendel coming through the doorway. ‘‘Here she is. We don’t have to guess—let’s ask her if she was able to acquire the artifacts.’’
Kendel waved to them as she walked down the hallway. Her hair was twisted up in a clip. She wore white capri pants, a sleeveless turquoise shirt and tan leather wedge slides on her feet. Kendel had the ability to look dressed up in the most casual of clothes.
‘‘You’re back,’’ said Jonas. ‘‘That was quick. How did it go?’’ He had the beginnings of a frown, as if a quick return might have meant failure.
‘‘I got back an hour ago.’’ Kendel grinned. ‘‘We are now the owner of a collection of twelfth-dynasty amu lets that is most likely from our mummy’s wrappings.’’
‘‘You did it. Good for you, girl,’’ said Jonas. His face broke into a broad smile.
‘‘Well done,’’ said Diane. ‘‘How much did it cost us?’’
‘‘I came in way under budget. People still want im mortality. The collection will be called the Robert Lyon Rider Collection.’’ She made a frame in the air with her hands. ‘‘We’ll have a wonderful gold plaque labeling the room and the collection.’’
‘‘Good job. You said they are twelfth dynasty? The amulets support that date for our mummy, then?’’ said Diane.
‘‘Yes. I was very happy when I saw them. There’s a couple of lovely scarabs, a beautiful collection of carved fish, several figurines. I’m still establishing a paper trail to our mummy, but it’s looking good. The Riders had wills describing the artifacts and even a letter that described the unwrapping party, with’’—Kendel paused dramatically before she spoke again—‘‘a mention of our Victorian pickle jar.’’
Jonas rubbed his hands together. ‘‘That’s just great. More than I expected.’’
‘‘Well done, Kendel,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Very well done.’’
‘‘I was thinking on the way back that we should concentrate just on the twelfth dynasty in the exhibit—something like Everyday Life in TwelfthDynasty Egypt.’’
‘‘Good idea,’’ said Diane. ‘‘That tight focus is a good way to make the most of the handful of items we have. I’d like to see a time line that shows what was going on in other parts of the world during that same period. Set up a meeting with the exhibit plan ners and we’ll start on it. It would be good if we can make the opening dovetail with a fund-raiser.’’
‘‘Do you want me to put feelers out for other acqui sitions?’’ asked Kendel.
‘‘Let me look at the budget. It might be better to use the resources to do a fine exhibit with what we have. We can always branch out later.’’
Diane introduced Kendel to Lynn, who stood be tween Jonas and Korey, observing Diane’s assistant director.
‘‘Good to meet you. Love your shoes,’’ said Lynn. ‘‘Gucci?’’
‘‘Michael Kors,’’ said Kendel, holding out her hand to Lynn.
A technician came out to the corridor. ‘‘We’re ready for our patient.’’
He took the gurney into the imaging room and di rected them into the viewing room where several staff from the hospital had assembled to watch. The mummy was a celebrity. Someone had even called the newspaper. A reporter, a young woman who looked like she might still be a journalism student and an equally young photographer hurried through the door just behind Diane and her staff.
‘‘Thanks for asking me,’’ said Lynn. ‘‘This is a nice thing to come back to after burying Raymond.’’
‘‘I’m happy to have you look at the scan and offer any ideas on what you see.’’
The viewing room was actually too small for the crowd gathered there. It was already getting hot, but no one but Diane seemed to notice. When they were all settled, Jonas repeated the story of the mummy to the reporter and the crowd of technicians, nurses and doctors. Diane imagined that he must have been a great lecturer. He took all the bits and pieces of infor mation they had discovered so far and wove a fascinat ing story. As he spoke, Diane watched the technicians lift the mummy from the gurney onto the CT platform. The photographer snapped pictures as the mummy started his journey into the circle.
‘‘Chevron one