Dead Secret

talk to Star about her family. Maybe because Star seemed to find comfort in the fact that Diane had similar problems communicating with her parents as Star had when hers were alive.
    “Where did you grow up? Uncle Frank said you were from here in Rosewood to start with.”
    “Yes. We moved to Tennessee when I was about twelve. They didn’t move to Birmingham until after I was in college.”
    Star sipped her drink and started another slice of pizza. She didn’t take her eyes off Diane as she fired questions at her. “What does your dad do?”
    “He’s a stockbroker.”
    “Is he rich?”
    “Probably. They live in a wealthy section of Birmingham.”
    “They sound nice. Uncle Frank’s family’s real nice, too. We went out to visit them at Christmas. It was fun.”
    “I’ve met them. They are nice.”
    “When you lived in Rosewood, did you know Uncle Frank?”
    “No. I’m sure we were in the same elementary school, but I didn’t know him.”
    “So are you and Uncle Frank going to get married? I’d be your daughter then.”
    Diane got up and collected her leftovers. “It feels like you’re my daughter now.”
    The ring of Star’s laughter followed her into the kitchen. “You aren’t going to answer me, are you?” she said.
    “Nope.” Diane came back to the living room. “I’m going to head to bed now. Do you mind?”
    Star shook her head. “No. Uncle Frank said you’d probably turn in early.”
    “You can watch TV if you like. Just don’t stay up all night.” Diane started to get some bedclothes for the sofa, when she spotted them on a dining room chair.
    Star followed her gaze. “I hope you don’t mind. I got them out before you got here.”
    “That’s fine. The sofa makes a bed. I’ll help you pull it out.”
    “I’d rather sleep on it like it is.”
    “Okay. Don’t stay up late.”
    Diane called David and told him she had to go out of town on a family emergency and that he was in charge of the crime lab. When she hung up, she called Kendel and told her she would be gone a couple of days and to go ahead with setting up the position for Mike. With that finished, she took a shower, making an effort not to get her bandage wet—no easy task—and it took her three times as long. She selected a thin nightgown. Even at its end, the summer was still hotter than usual for North Georgia. Just as she slipped the gown over her head and was about to climb into bed, Frank’s characteristic knock sounded at the front door; then she heard his key in the lock.
    “Anybody home?”
    “Uncle Frank, you’re back.”
    Diane put on a robe and walked to the living room. “I didn’t expect you, but I’m glad you’re here.”
    Frank was putting an overnight bag on a chair. “I made an effort to wrap things up as soon as I could. How’s it going? Star made you crazy yet?” He winked at Star, who made a face at him.
    “She’s good company.”
    “We’ve had a really interesting time,” said Star. “Diane’s sister called. Her mother’s been arrested for armed bank robbery.”
    Frank stood holding his shaving kit under his arm, staring from Diane to Star, as if waiting for Diane to contradict her absurd statement.
    “I know,” said Diane. “That’s how I was when Susan told me. I don’t understand it.”
    “Armed robbery? Your mother?”
    “As unlikely as that sounds, she’s apparently in prison,” she said, smoothing back her still-damp hair. “I’m glad you’re here. Maybe you can make some sense out of what Susan was trying to tell me.”
    The dining table sat in a corner just outside Diane’s efficiency kitchen. Frank pulled out a chair and sat down. Diane sat opposite him. Star heated Frank several slices of the pizza, then joined them at the table, propping her chin up on her hands, apparently content to listen quietly.
    The whole conversation between her and her sister didn’t take long to relate. When Diane finished, Frank sat silently eating his pizza and washing it down with Dr Pepper. He set down his glass.
    “There’s another reason they would take her to prison without a trial or bail,” he said.

Chapter 18
    “What reason? How could they legally put her in prison without a trial?” Diane asked.
    “If they thought she already had one.”
    “Why would they think that?” she asked as she rubbed her upper arm, hoping to knead the ache out of it.
    “A couple of possible reasons. One could be that somebody stole her identity. Someone got her Social