Dead Secret

and turned to Neva. “Jin’s coming to pick you up.”
    “Crime scene?”
    Diane nodded and took a deep breath. “Neva, it’s your house. It apparently happened last night.”
    Neva’s eyes grew wide and she looked from Mike to Diane. Mike reached out and took her hand.
    “My house? What did they do?”
    “David’s there now. He says it’s vandalized pretty bad. And . . . ” Diane hesitated. “Whoever it was spray-painted some ugly things on your walls. I just wanted to prepare you for that.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know, but we’ll find out. Jin and David are going to process it. David only wants you there to tell him if anything is missing.”
    “But . . . can’t I?”
    “That’s the way it has to be. They’ll do a good job.”
    Neva put her free hand to her face, pinching the bridge of her nose. Diane could see she was trying not to cry. Diane was thinking, What if she had been home?
    “You can stay at my apartment tonight,” said Diane. “I don’t want you to stay in your home for now.”
    “You can stay in mine,” said Mike.
    Frank had been listening quietly to the exchange between Diane and her staff. “Actually, I think you should stay at my house until yours is cleared up,” he said, surprising them all. He smiled. “You’ll like my daughter, and Diane can vouch for my character.”
    Neva glanced back and forth between Diane and Frank, confusion written on her face.
    “I don’t want to be an alarmist,” said Frank, “but I don’t like the math. Something has happened to Mike, Diane and now you. I don’t know if they are related, but if someone wants to get at you physically, he’d think to look at your boyfriend’s place, and maybe at your boss’s apartment, but not my house.”
    Mike lifted his eyebrows and gave Frank a crooked smile. “It makes sense,” he said—rather reluctantly, Diane thought. She couldn’t help notice the amused glint in Frank’s eyes at Mike’s discomfort.
    Neva nodded and looked at Diane. “If you think it’s best.”
    At that moment Jin came in, looking his usual happy self. “Hi, guys. How you doing, Mike?”
    “I’m thinking about trying to get out of here today.”
    “No,” said Neva. “Mike, I’ll be all right.”
    “I know, but if you’d been at home . . .”
    “But I wasn’t.” She bent down and kissed him.
    “We’ll see she stays safe,” said Jin. He turned to Neva. “You ready?”
    She nodded and started out the door with him. She paused and looked back at Mike. “I’ll call when I know something.” Her shoulders slumped, and she appeared vulnerable and frightened.
    Diane felt uneasy about having to go out of town. She wished she could trust her family to do what needed to be done. She’d like to call and tell them how to proceed, who to contact, but she feared they were completely helpless in the face of the criminal justice system.
    “I have to go to Alabama, Mike. It’ll be only for a couple of days, I hope. Don’t worry about reporting to work until your doctor says you can. I mean it.”
    Mike nodded absently. “You know there are bullies in her neighborhood that Neva’s had to pull off some of the younger kids a time or two.”
    “I’ll remind Neva to tell David,” said Diane. “If you think of anything else, let David know. He’s in charge of the crime lab while I’m gone. Kendel is in charge of the museum, if you have any questions. She’s very happy I hired you. She’s already approached the exhibit designers with your extremophile plan.”
    “I can’t wait to get out of here and start on it.” He smiled, but his enthusiasm was weakened. “Frank, take care of my girl.”
    “I’ll take good care of both of them.” Frank gave Mike one of what Diane called his prankish smiles.
    “That’s funny,” said Mike.
    “Seriously. Neva’ll be safe.” Frank fished a card and a pen from his pocket. “I’m writing my home phone and my cell phone on my card. If you need anything, give me a call.”
    Mike took the card and looked at it and then back up at Frank. “Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome. Do what the doctors tell you. I know it’s frustrating, believe me. But you’re no good to anybody if you don’t take care of yourself first.”
    Diane took Mike’s hand and squeezed it. His hands were rough from the heavy calluses he had developed rock climbing, and even ill he had a strong grip.
    “Listen to Frank,” she said. “I expect a lot of work from you when you recover.”
    He