Dead Guilty

pulled back and looked Diane in the face. ‘‘My God. What is this about?’’
‘‘I don’t know. The profiler thinks the murders aren’t related.’’
‘‘Three people dead, one missing, and another attacked—all of whom had something to do with three more bodies in the woods. Maybe he ought to take math.’’
‘‘But what’s the connection?’’
They heard laughter filtering down from Star’s room.
‘‘You’ve really made her happy. That’s not an easy thing to do.’’
‘‘Everyone needs something to look forward to.’’
‘‘Can I go with you to Paris?’’
Diane chuckled. ‘‘Sure.’’
They sat in silence for a long time. Diane was glad for the rest. Frank was comfortable and safe.
‘‘I have a great-looking red SUV I’m driving,’’ Diane said.
‘‘I saw that out the window when you drove up. That the loaner?’’
‘‘Yes. Nice. I rather like it. I might get one. Maybe not that color.’’ She paused a moment, not sure whether to bring up the subject of Izzy. ‘‘Garnett called me in today to talk about my inappropriate behavior.’’
‘‘Jesus. Now what?’’
‘‘Dating men half my age. I told him you are at least a couple of years older than me.’’
Frank didn’t say anything for a minute. He pulled Diane closer. ‘‘I’m sorry,’’ he whispered. ‘‘I know where that came from.’’
‘‘So Izzy talked to you too.’’
‘‘Yes. I told him he was being an ass. I see I should have used stronger words. I’ll talk to him.’’
‘‘No. I’ve dealt with it.’’
‘‘Did Garnett give you much trouble?’’
‘‘Not really. I suspect when the story was told to him it was amplified with colorful derogatory words. When he cleaned up the language to explain to me why he called me in, the whole thing ended up sound ing a little ridiculous.’’
‘‘Diane, maybe we should talk about us.’’
‘‘Us?’’
‘‘That’s shorthand for you and me. I can’t tell you how frightened I was the other night. It made me realize how much you mean to me.’’
‘‘You mean a lot to me too, and I find that a lit tle scary.’’
‘‘Scary? How?’’
‘‘Ariel meant the world to me. She was my heart. Losing her was more than devastating. Caring about people is a risky business.’’ Diane hesitated for a mo ment, searching for the right words, but no right words came. ‘‘The two of us are doing fine. You work in Atlanta, I work here, we see each other when we can. Life is good.’’
‘‘True, but permanence is something to think about.’’
‘‘Okay. We’ll think about it.’’
Frank laughed. ‘‘I’m glad we got that settled.’’
Diane was about to kiss him when Star bounced into the room. ‘‘Jennifer wants me to go out to WalMart and maybe a movie. Her mother says it’s okay.’’
‘‘Who else is going?’’
‘‘Maybe Jessica and Stephanie.’’
‘‘Who’s driving?’’
‘‘Jennifer. She’s kind of on her way to pick me up.’’
‘‘She kind of is, is she? Go ahead, but be back by ten forty-five, and no controlled substances.’’
‘‘Uncle Frank, you know, that was funny the first thirty times you said it. I’ve never done drugs.’’
‘‘No smoking of anything that I call a drug and you don’t.’’
‘‘I told you I gave that up. You know, I could just give you a glass of pee every time I come home.’’
‘‘That’s an idea. Have a good time, and don’t be late.’’
Star already had a purse in hand, a small black cro chet fringed thing she hung over her shoulder and across her chest. She’d changed from jeans and black tee-shirt into a short black skirt and black blouse. She kissed Frank on the cheek.
‘‘I’ll be here if you need me,’’ he told her.
Star turned to Diane. ‘‘You really meant it, didn’t you, about Paris and the clothes?’’
‘‘Yes.’’
She almost broke into giggles again. ‘‘Wow. Thanks. I mean it.’’ She bounded out the door at the sound of a car horn.
‘‘Star seems to be doing well.’’
‘‘Most of the time she is. She cries at night some times. She doesn’t want me to know.’’
Diane understood Star’s grief. That was one reason she made the offer. Trying to deal with grief and get your life back is one of the hardest things to do. Star had lost both her parents and her brother to a mur derer and had been accused of committing the crime herself. It was going to take her a long time before she stopped crying into her pillow.
* * *
It