Dead Secret

Garnett.
    “I’m going to be beefing up security, too. And I’ll have the day lighting stay on at night until we sort this out. That will make it easier for security.”
    “So you weren’t tempted to destroy the evidence?” said Burns. It wasn’t an accusation, but simply a comment, something a reasonable person might do, given the alternatives.
    “No,” said Diane. “Destroying evidence of a crime is not an option. Neither is having my museum burned to the ground or having my family harmed. What I’m going to do is get the sons of bitches.”
    “We’ll help you,” said Burns. “Let us know.”
    Diane gave them a brief description of what happened to her mother and how the two thugs bragged about it. “They were proud that they could get to anyone without leaving the house.”
    “Son of a bitch,” echoed Sheriff Canfield. “People can do something like that?”
    “Yes, they can,” said Garnett. “We have a unit that deals with computer fraud. It’s frightening what a hacker can do. So these guys are computer geeks?”
    “At least one of them has to be.” Diane took a deep breath. Here she had to be her most diplomatic self. “One thing you can do,” said Diane. “I got the impression that the guys knew that we’re making progress. I’m checking my staff and phones to see if there is a leak, a bug or any way someone might have overheard a conversation between me and my staff. I’d like you all to do the same.”
    They took the suggestion that they might have a leak much better than she had hoped.
    “My big leaker is in the hospital,” said Burns. “Deputy Singer is our county commissioner’s brother-in-law and a pain in the butt. I try to keep him on easy things, like serving papers and the like. I understand he shoveled up the bones of Flora Martin and delivered her to you in a garbage bag.”
    “Yes, he did.”
    Burns shook his head. “That’s not how I taught him. I sent him to Atlanta for training with the GBI. I don’t know why he didn’t learn anything.”
    Having Burns admit—in a manner of speaking—to a potential leak loosened up Canfield to the possibility.
    “I’ll talk to my secretary and deputies. You know, we talk all the time about a break in this case or that, without giving details.”
    “That’s the problem,” said Diane. “So do we, and that’s all the information they needed. They didn’t need details.”
    “It’s impossible not to talk at all about a case within earshot of the people you work with,” said Garnett. “Like Canfield, we don’t give out details, just . . . ‘we’re making progress’ kind of thing. Frankly, I’m surprised anyone takes that seriously.”
    They all laughed.
    “I may be all wrong,” said Diane. “Maybe they just assumed that we’d be making progress by this time.”
    “If they’ve been hanging around the museum,” said Canfield, “they might have picked up something here.” He was not accusatory, but there was still a slight defensive edge to his voice.
    “I agree. That’s most likely,” said Diane. She saw Canfield relax, but Garnett frowned. “That’s why I’m checking the phones. We know they have the ability to hack into secure computers. They also bypassed our electronic locks and alarms and disabled the security cameras for the lab break-in. They most likely have other electronic talents, such as tapping phones.”
    “We’ll check our offices,” said Canfield.
    Garnett’s frown softened. Diane knew it was important to him that the crime lab seem invincible and infallible, but she wasn’t going to get any cooperation from the two sheriffs if she put the burden of a possible leak entirely on their shoulders. In reality, she was concerned that someone overheard her phone call to David when she and Frank were in the restaurant.
    “I appreciate all of your cooperation. I’ve got reports for you on the evidence found at your crime scenes.” Diane passed out papers from a stack David had put on the table in preparation for the meeting. She stood up. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk to my security personnel.”
    Garnett stayed after the others left. Clearly he needed more debriefing.
    “What are you doing to find these guys?”
    “David is working the basement. He’ll also be searching the databases for hackers—maybe our guy did time, possibly as a juvenile. We’ll be reviewing the videotapes. Neva is interviewing museum personnel to see if anyone remembers seeing them on the