Dead Secret

don’t yet know who may be involved. I can’t anticipate the direction the investigation may take. There are not that many rich and powerful people in the area whom you don’t know.”
    Vanessa’s face became stern. “Put yourself at ease, Diane. If anyone I know is responsible for this, then I would regard their actions as a betrayal and a threat to all those things I hold dearest to me. I would expect that every effort within your power be made to apprehend and punish them in the most severe way allowed under the law. Anyone who threatens Milo’s museum is not a friend of mine.”
    “Thank you for that. And thank you for seeing me unannounced.”
    “Did you think I was going to have Hattie kick you out? I think you’re feeling a little sorry for yourself. It’s not like you.”
    “I know.” Diane rubbed her temples. “I’m getting pathetic.”
    “It looks like you’ve been crying.”
    Diane looked over at an ornate mirror hanging on the wall. Her eyes did look puffy. “I had to tell my parents why someone wrecked their lives, destroyed their tranquillity and ruined their reputation. They are very angry with me. My mother blames me for what happened to her.”
    “Oh, my dear, I see.”
    “She has suffered a lot.”
    “No doubt. It was a cruel thing that was done to her. But her blame is misplaced. I know family relationships can be difficult—Lord knows, mine are complicated enough. But you have to keep yourself anchored in reality. The reality is that there are some very bad people out there who are trying to get their way.”
    Diane liked talking to Vanessa—she was good at putting things in perspective. She wished she had the same relationship with her family.
    “I know that, deep inside. It’s just hard to put into practice sometimes.” Diane looked at her watch. “I need to ask another favor. I couldn’t call Frank on my phone at the museum or my cell phone. May I use yours? It’s long-distance, to Atlanta.”
    Vanessa nodded. “Of course, dear. You can use the phone on the desk.”
    She pointed to a white French Provençal desk with a glass-covered top. The phone matched the decor—white and gold.
    “Would you like me to leave you alone?”
    “That’s not necessary.” Diane sat down at the desk and called Frank’s cell. “Frank, it’s me,” she said when he answered.
    “Hey, Diane. How are you? I understand you called your parents and they blame you for your mom’s arrest. Did you find out what happened?”
    Frank caught Diane completely by surprise. “How did you know?”
    “Mike called.”
    “Mike called? He shouldn’t have.” Diane felt a little annoyed.
    “He called about Neva,” said Frank. “He wants her to stay at my house again.”
    Diane’s annoyance evaporated. “Why?” she asked.
    “There’s some nut who’s been calling him—says something about being the top of the food chain and Mike isn’t going to get his rabbits.”
    “Neva mentioned something about that. They thought it was someone on drugs.”
    “He called this morning and told Mike that Neva would make a pretty little rabbit.”
    “Oh, my God.” Talking with Vanessa had had a calming effect on her, but now she was scared again.
    “It shook him up pretty bad,” said Frank. “He was going to ask you to ask me, but he said you had a lot on your plate and he didn’t want to bother you. What’s going on?”
    Diane told him the whole story as she fingered the feathered ink pen on the desk. She wondered if anyone ever wrote with it. She could just see him staring at the phone with his mouth open.
    “Did they hurt you?”
    “They made my arm sore again. Pissed me off royally. But I’m basically all right.”
    “So you think one is a hacker?”
    “Yes.”
    “I have a database of known and suspected hackers.”
    Diane smiled. “David would be envious.”
    “Tell me everything you know about him and I’ll start looking for possibilities. If Jin can get his DNA, he may be in CODIS. That was good thinking, by the way, getting them to yell into your ear and leave their DNA.”
    “Thanks. I think better in a blind panic.”
    Diane told Frank everything she could think of about the men. It wasn’t much, but maybe he could find something useful.
    “I’ll come stay with you tonight,” he said.
    “That would be a comfort. Bring a bedroll; we’ll be sleeping in the museum.”
    Diane hung up the phone. “Thank you, Vanessa. I appreciate your lending me your support and giving me