Dead Hunt

O’Riley,’’ said Diane. He looked startled. ‘‘Ross’ Clymene?’’ he asked. ‘‘The very one,’’ said Diane.
‘‘I thought she was in jail,’’ said Jacobs, ‘‘. . . or did
I hear that she escaped?’’
‘‘Yes, she escaped, right after I visited her at her
request. That’s another long story,’’ she said. ‘‘Well, you’re right. None of this makes any sense.
Why would Clymene escape and then show up at your
apartment?’’ he asked.
‘‘I don’t know. Why would someone else decide to
kill her there? The whole thing had to be premeditated and coordinated. And why drug me?’’ said
Diane. ‘‘I’m aware that all of this makes me look
guilty of something.’’
‘‘Maybe that’s the point. If Clymene blamed you
for her conviction, could she be behind the artifact
problem? It started before her demise,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t see how . . .’’ She stopped.
‘‘What?’’ he asked.
‘‘Clymene’s late husband, the one she was convicted
of murdering, was an amateur archaeologist. Clymene
boned up on archaeology in order to lay her trap for
him,’’ said Diane.
‘‘So she could have made contacts,’’ said Jacobs.
‘‘See?’’ He patted Diane on the hand. ‘‘You need to
tell your doctor all your symptoms, no matter how
much you think they are unrelated, and let him make
the diagnosis.’’
Diane smiled. ‘‘It hadn’t occurred to me that Clymene might have masterminded this. All she would
have to do is get Golden Antiquities to switch the
artifacts and make a call to the newspapers.’’ ‘‘That’s a possibility,’’ said Jacobs. ‘‘I’ll look into it.
I’ll see if Randal Cunningham had any dealings with
Clymene. Did she have friends, known associates?
Some people in prison have a following.’’
‘‘She had visitors. And there’s a possibility she
conned Rev. Rivers, the prison counselor, into helping her escape. He was found murdered at his home after
she broke out,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Something went bad for her,’’ mused Jacobs. ‘‘If
it’s true that she orchestrated all of this, I wonder
what went wrong.’’
‘‘Orchestrated. That’s what’s been going through my
mind. The whole thing feels like some kind of game.
If it were just a simple crime, it wouldn’t be so hard to
understand. Motives would be more straightforward. I
know there is no way either Kendel or I or anyone
else at the museum could make the artifact switch
work as a moneymaking plan the way it was done.’’ ‘‘Could it be a game Clymene started but now can’t
finish?’’ he said.
‘‘Maybe.’’ Diane began gathering up the money. ‘‘I need to take the whole package for analysis,’’
he said.
Diane shook her head. ‘‘We don’t know if it’s related to the artifacts. I’ll have my lab do it. Look,
yours is backed up and this isn’t a priority for the
FBI, but it is a priority here. Besides, it might just be
a contribution to the museum. Granted, patrons don’t
usually insult me when they are donating, but some
of them are not pleased with me lately.’’
He smiled and agreed. But Diane knew it was because he had no choice. There was no physical connection to the envelope and money he could make with
his case. It just looked suspicious. For that matter, he
didn’t even know if the wayward artifacts were his
case either. It was all just suspicion.
‘‘So, you run the museum and the crime lab. Anything else?’’ he asked.
‘‘I’m also a forensic anthropologist and have an osteology lab in the building,’’ said Diane.
‘‘I know there’s a story here,’’ he said.
‘‘There is. A very long one,’’ she said.
‘‘Maybe over lunch when Ross comes,’’ he said. There was a knock on the door and Andie entered.
‘‘I’m sorry to interrupt.’’
Diane walked over to her with the envelope. ‘‘David called and you are wanted in the crime lab,’’
Andie whispered. ‘‘The federal marshals are here
again. So is that FBI guy, Kingsley, and some other
folks from the police station. David is afraid they may
want to...well... arrest you.’’

Chapter 31
    ‘‘Okay, thank you, Andie,’’ said Diane as she looked into Andie’s worried eyes. She was a little surprised that Andie hadn’t suggested she go out the loading dock exit and avoid the whole thing altogether. ‘‘It’s all right. Go back to your desk. I’ll let you know if you need to bring me a toothbrush.’’
    Diane smiled at her as