Dead Hunt

files.
‘‘Did you or anyone here notice anything unusual about Bobby yesterday?’’ asked Diane as Karalyn searched for the address.
‘‘No. He was his usual self. Funny and friendly. We all like him. He’s a good worker and he doesn’t try to steal tips. A little odd, though. Very juvenile acting. Well, this is funny,’’ said Karalyn.
‘‘What?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘His address: 1214 Rockwell Drive,’’ she said.
‘‘Rockwell only goes to 800. That would put him in the woods,’’ said Diane.
‘‘It would. What’s going on?’’ she said, looking at Diane with a frown.
‘‘What does he look like?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘Blond hair. Hazel eyes. Slim. Real cute . . . almost pretty in a guy sort of way,’’ said Karalyn. ‘‘About five ten, I guess. My boyfriend is five ten and Bobby seems about that tall.’’
‘‘Does he have a personal space? Don’t you guys have lockers?’’ asked Diane.
Karalyn nodded. ‘‘That was an odd thing about him,’’ she said. ‘‘He was really into cleanliness.’’
‘‘What do you mean?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘He’s always wiping down everything. Even his locker.’’ She paused a moment in thought. ‘‘He was getting rid of fingerprints, wasn’t he?’’
Karalyn was getting that sparkle in her eye that Diane often saw in people when they found themselves landed in a mystery.
‘‘Maybe,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Wow, can’t you tell me what he did?’’ she said.
‘‘I don’t know that he did anything,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I just need to speak with him.’’ She left Karalyn closing the filing cabinet and walked out and through the restaurant.
‘‘Diane.’’
She recognized the voice of Kenneth Meyerson, one of the board members. She turned to him and smiled. He was at a table with his wife.
‘‘Can you sit down a minute?’’ he asked.
Diane hesitated, then smiled and sat down. ‘‘Just a minute. How are you and Evelyn?’’
‘‘We’re great. Just going to a concert on campus tonight. Ever heard of a fellow named August Kellenmeyer?’’ asked Kenneth.
‘‘Oh, Ken, of course she has,’’ said his wife.
Evelyn was a petite woman with pixielike short, dark hair and a heart-shaped face. She reminded Diane of Clara Bow.
‘‘Pianist,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Yes. One of my favorites.’’
‘‘I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the board meeting yesterday,’’ said Kenneth.
‘‘You enjoyed that?’’ said Diane. ‘‘You must be hard up for entertainment.’’
He chuckled. ‘‘Oh, you don’t know. Before you arrived, Barclay was telling Vanessa, ‘This is what happens when you have no oversight. You’ve got to change this. The board has to have more power. I’ll show you how to handle this.’ He hammered his hand up and down on the table like he was swatting flies.’’ Kenneth laughed. ‘‘I guess he did show her how to handle it. I thought to myself when he was going on, Diane’s going to rip him a new one. And you did.’’
‘‘I take it you’ve had a run-in with him before,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Oh, yeah. When I was just starting out I went to his bank for a loan. He treated me like I was hardly worth stepping on. Barely looked at me when he was turning down my application and lecturing me on how there are bigger computer companies out there and who was I to think I could compete with them out of my garage,’’ he said.
Kenneth’s computer company was now both successful and international, but Diane could tell he still felt the sting of that rejection.
‘‘I guess you showed him,’’ said Diane.
Kenneth waved his hand dismissively. ‘‘He’s turned down so many loans since then, I don’t think he even remembers me. It was a long time ago. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the meeting.’’
‘‘Why did you guys vote him in?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘I didn’t. You know Vanessa, Laura, and Madge. They are old Rosewood just like Barclay. Laura thinks he’s just a gruff avuncular bear. Hell, he’s good to his own kind. And Vanessa thought we could use a banker. I don’t think they were pleased with his performance, to tell you the truth.’’
‘‘I certainly wasn’t,’’ said Diane. She wished Kenneth and his wife a pleasant evening and left hoping she wouldn’t run into anyone else. But as she exited the restaurant she ran into Vanessa and Laura leaving at the same time. Normally she enjoyed visiting with them. But not today. She stiffened