Dead Hunt

forensic anthropologist.’’
‘‘Are you really? That’s so interesting. So you know about finding your earliest ancient ancestors,’’ said Carley.
‘‘I told Carley that just doesn’t seem possible. There would be so many of them,’’ said her mother.
‘‘The deep ancestry project shows you which haplogroup you belong to,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Where your branch of the earliest humans originated and where they migrated to.’’
‘‘Isn’t that exciting, Mother?’’ said Carley.
‘‘I’m sure it is, dear,’’ she said.
Diane could see she still didn’t quite understand what it was her daughter was looking for.
Kingsley pulled a folder from his briefcase and put a picture of Clymene on the table.
‘‘We are trying to find out who this woman is,’’ said Kingsley.
‘‘And she’s related to me?’’ repeated Carley.
‘‘Yes, your DNA profile shows that you are related,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I’m not sure of the exact relationship, but I believe she is your mother’s first cousin. If that’s the case, it would make her your first cousin once removed.’’
‘‘See,’’ said Carley’s mother, ‘‘I just don’t get that removed business.’’
She was interrupted by an older woman rushing up the steps to the deck in an obvious state of irritation.
‘‘Carley, what have you done? I told you not to go looking for relatives,’’ she blurted.
‘‘Gramma,’’ said Carley.
The woman turned to Diane and Kingsley and pointed a shaking finger at them.
‘‘Go home. You aren’t wanted here. Go home now.’’

Chapter 46
    The woman who stood with her finger pointing toward Diane and Kingsley was about a seventy-year-old version of Ellen and Carley Volker. Strong genes. Diane noted that she didn’t look so much angry as frightened.
    ‘‘Mamma, these are our guests,’’ said Ellen. She smiled weakly at Diane and Kingsley.
‘‘I told Carley she didn’t need to be looking for relatives. I want them to go now.’’
‘‘Why, Gramma?’’ said Carley.
‘‘Never mind why. You don’t need to know why. Just tell them to go,’’ she said. She slumped in a chair as if exhausted. ‘‘I heard what you were up to,’’ she said, glaring at her granddaughter, as if Carley had been trying drugs rather than trying to trace her family tree.
Normally, Diane would excuse herself and let them sort out their problems in private, but it was obvious the grandmother knew something. Diane hoped it was about Clymene. She and Kingsley sat quietly watching the drama.
‘‘You have to tell me why, Gramma,’’ said Carley.
She was a pretty girl. Diane tried to find Clymene in their faces. She wasn’t there—the hair color and skin tone were, but not the look.
‘‘I don’t have to tell you why, child. Just do as I say,’’ she said.
‘‘Carley, maybe . . .’’ began her mother. Ellen Volker was clearly in a quandary with her mother’s obvious distress and the possibility of having to kick guests out of her home.
Carley’s face was firm. ‘‘Mother, you always say this is my home. If that’s true, I should be able to have guests.’’
She laid a suntanned hand on her grandmother’s arm. ‘‘Gramma, if you would just tell me what this is about. Is it because we have relatives who have been in prison? You can’t be ashamed of things you can’t control. Look at how many people around here claim to be related to Blackbeard,’’ she said.
Carley’s effort to get her grandmother to smile failed. Gramma looked at Carley.
‘‘Ashamed? Oh, child, you just don’t know. Why do you have to be so stubborn?’’
‘‘She gets it from you, Mother,’’ said Ellen. She straightened up and tried to put on a smile. ‘‘Where are my manners? This is my mother, Sarah Wallace. Mamma, this is Diane Fallon and Agent Kingsley,’’ she said.
Diane and Kingsley took out their badges again and showed them to the grandmother.
‘‘FBI?’’ she said.
‘‘How did you find out I had company coming to talk about our family tree?’’ said Carley.
‘‘You told your friend Jenny and she told her mother, who told me,’’ her grandmother said. ‘‘Does it matter?’’
‘‘It does if I want to plug up the leak,’’ said Carley.
‘‘Carley,’’ chided her mother gently. She looked at Diane and Kingsley. ‘‘I can’t imagine what you must think of us.’’
They smiled at her.
‘‘Mrs. Wallace,’’ said Diane. ‘‘We’re looking for a woman who has escaped