Dead Hunt

thing she said that I found interesting was that each time she was there she had smelled Jean Patou’s Joy. It’s a very expensive perfume,’’ said David. ‘‘But she never saw the wearer.’’
‘‘Like hundred-dollars-an-ounce expensive?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘No. Like five-hundred-an-ounce expensive,’’ said David.
‘‘Wow,’’ said Diane. ‘‘So, it’s rare?’’
‘‘No. It’s the second-best-selling scent in the world,’’ said David.
‘‘You’re kidding. I’ve never heard of it. Can that many people afford five-hundred-dollar-an-ounce perfume?’’ said Diane.
‘‘Well, I think it’s the second-best-selling overall since it was created sometime in the thirties. I’m not sure where it stands today. But Kendel says it’s very popular still—and you don’t have to buy it by the ounce. You can get a fraction of an ounce—like a hundred dollars’ worth,’’ said David. ‘‘You want me to give Frank a hint?’’
‘‘No. I’ll look it up when I visit Paris this summer,’’ said Diane.
In a bid to talk Frank’s adopted daughter Star into going to college, Diane had offered to take her to Paris and buy her a new wardrobe if Star would go to the university for a year and make at least a 2.7 grade point average. She was beginning to look forward to the trip and was feeling very proud that Star, a troubled girl whose parents had been murdered, was turning her life around.
‘‘So Star’s made the grade?’’ said David. ‘‘Good for her.’’
‘‘So far. She still has the rest of spring semester to go. You know, spring break and all. Frank is planning a trip for the two of them during spring break. He’s really nervous she is going to want to go to the beach with her friends instead of with him.’’
‘‘Spring break is a tradition,’’ said David.
‘‘Sure it is, but I think he’s right. Next year she’ll have more experience being on her own. All this is new to her,’’ said Diane.
‘‘New? She was on her own when she was on the lam with that guy she called her boyfriend,’’ said David.
‘‘I mean being on her own in a responsible manner, then,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Anything else Kendel remembered?’’
‘‘The whole transaction was smooth. Not even much haggling,’’ said David. ‘‘Last meeting they said they would deliver the items within the week. Which they did, except as I understand it now, they weren’t the items.’’
‘‘Maybe she’ll remember more now that her memory has been jogged,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Can you keep in touch with the arson investigation at Golden Antiquities?’’
‘‘I think so,’’ said David.
‘‘Good. Let’s go home. I know it’s early for me, but I’m tired. A lot happened today. Things will look fresher in the morning.’’
Diane closed up her office and lab, and she and David walked through the building to the lobby. She waved at the guard on duty and they walked out the door to the parking lot. It was dusk, the moon was full, and everything had the faintly bluish tint of darkness coming. People were arriving at the restaurant for a late dinner, and many cars belonging to the staff were still parked in the lot. Diane looked up at the colossal building just in time to see the day lighting go off and the night lighting come on. She loved the museum and silently promised she would protect it from scandal. Diane waved to David, got in her car, and drove home.
* * *
Diane opened her eyes at the sound of someone knocking on her door. Was she dreaming? She got out of bed. What time is it? She looked at her clock: 4:14 a.m. No wonder she felt so sleepy. Not enough sleep. There was that knock again.
She slipped on a robe and flipped the light switch. Nothing happened. Great, another power outage. What this time, another squirrel on the wire?
She walked down the short hallway in the dark toward the living room. As she passed the kitchen she stepped in something wet and slick. She lost her footing, slipped, and fell hard on the floor, hitting her head against the wall on her way down.
She lay stunned by the fall. After a moment she became aware that she was lying in a wet pool. The coppery-iron aroma was unmistakable.

Chapter 16
    Diane was trying to rise to her feet just as the door burst open.
    ‘‘This is the police,’’ shouted a loud male voice she thought she recognized. She felt a surge of relief.
‘‘Dr. Fallon?’’ he called out.
‘‘Here,’’ said Diane. He switched on