Dead Hunt

photograph of
Diane hanging suspended from a rope inside a dark
cavern. Diane wondered if that was how Kendel felt,
like someone dangling at the end of a rope. ‘‘Diane Fallon?’’ said the voice on the other end of the phone. ‘‘I’m Shell Sidney from the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution .’’
Diane wondered if the reporter’s name was really
Sidney Shell and she had reversed it in order to have
more gravitas.
‘‘I’ve been trying to reach you in regard to the stolen antiquities.’’
‘‘Stolen antiquities?’’ said Diane.
The reporter hesitated a beat. ‘‘The stolen antiquities that have been in the news. One of your own
board members stated that Miss Williams, the—ah—
assistant director, has been fired for purchasing antiquities that she knew were looted. What do you have
to say about that?’’

Chapter 7
    ‘‘Your information is incorrect,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Which part of the story are you saying is incor
rect?’’ The reporter asked.
‘‘All of it. The entire story is no more than a collection of allegations, innuendo, and rumor,’’ said Diane
in what she hoped was a calm voice.
‘‘What about your board member’s statement?’’
asked the reporter.
‘‘The statement as published was
sure what she said was that if any
a misquote. I’m employee were found to have dealt in stolen antiquities we would take
the appropriate action.’’
‘‘Are you saying that Miss Williams has not been
fired?’’
‘‘She has not.’’
‘‘And you’re saying she is still assistant director at
the museum?’’
‘‘Yes, she is. It is not the policy of the museum to
fire or suspend its personnel based on rumors. Surely
your newspaper has the same policy concerning its
employees.’’
‘‘Let me get this straight. You are saying that Miss Williams did not purchase antiquities that were looted
from Egypt?’’
This is tricky, thought Diane. She had to respond.
She had been stung by reporters who printed their
own speculation as if it were truth. She had to be wary
about how she worded any explanation.
‘‘Before we purchase any antiquity for the museum,
we research the provenance,’’ said Diane. ‘‘We adhere
to the highest international standards for authentication and certification. After an item arrives at the museum, we double-check its
entered into our collection.
provenance before it is The double-checking is done by a staff of museum employees not involved in initially acquiring the piece. Right now we have several acquisitions from various locations around the world going through that process. To date we have found nothing amiss with the provenances. I can e-mail you a copy
of our acquisition policy if that will help.’’
‘‘Are you saying that this whole thing is a fabrication by someone?’’ asked the reporter. ‘‘Why would
they do that?’’
‘‘I can’t say anything about the motives or behavior
of some unknown person,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I can only
tell you that the articles were written without any attempt by the reporter to verify the information
through this office.’’
‘‘Have you been contacted by the Egyptian government or the FBI?’’ asked the reporter.
‘‘No,’’ said Diane, ‘‘no one has contacted us.’’ ‘‘So you are saying the whole thing is just a rumor?’’
asked the reporter.
‘‘That is correct. If any stolen or improperly acquired item should come into our possession, our procedure will discover it. That’s what it’s for.’’ The reporter gave Diane her telephone number and
asked her to call if anything developed. Diane said
she would and hung up the phone.
Kendel was standing, examining the Escher prints
hanging on the wall opposite the caving photographs.
There were three prints in a row: a self-filling waterfall, a castle with endless ascending and descending
staircases, and a tessellation of angels and devils. Kendel sat down when Diane hung up the phone. ‘‘I suppose you will get lots of calls like that,’’
said Kendel.
‘‘Andie will field most of them,’’ said Diane, looking
at her watch. ‘‘In just a few minutes I have to face
the board. Do you still stand by your assessment of
the provenance?’’
‘‘Yes . . . well, I don’t know.’’ Kendel slumped in
her chair. ‘‘In the beginning I was completely sure.
This is something I’m good at. But now—I just don’t
know. I don’t understand where any of this is coming from.’’
‘‘This isn’t like