Dead Secret

minutes. One or the other of them would occasionally try to make small talk. Suddenly her mother broke down and started sobbing.
    “Iris,” said Nathan Fallon, reaching over to put an arm around her shoulders. He looked helpless.
    “I just don’t know how I’m going to face everybody.”
    “With indignation and a sense of dark humor,” said Diane.
    Everyone looked at Diane, as if no one had expected her mother’s question to be answered and was surprised that she had. Diane felt that what her mother needed was some practical advice.
    “Mother, most everyone will take their cue from you. If you act ashamed, they will treat you as if you have something to be ashamed of. Be frank and indignant about what happened to you and outraged that such a thing could be allowed to happen. Accept no guilt or shame whatsoever.”
    “Good advice,” said Gerald.
    “You might want to write an article for the newspaper,” said Diane. “Let everyone know what can happen to a perfectly innocent, law-abiding citizen.”
    Her mother shook her head back and forth. “I couldn’t.”
    “I can write one for you and let you read it. If you are comfortable with it, send it in as a human-interest article on the perils of relying too much on computers without proper safeguards.”
    Her mother moved her fork around in her vegetables. “I don’t want anyone to know.”
    “They will find out anyway, but the knowledge will be passed on in whispers behind your back. Making it public knowledge takes the power away from gossipers. When you talk to people about it, sprinkle in some humor here and there. People react favorably to people who can laugh at themselves in the direst situations.”
    “What could possibly be funny about any of this?” said Susan.
    “I don’t know,” said her mother. She tried to eat a few more bites of her food, but ended up putting down her fork. She looked at Diane. “You mean something like, ‘I had to leave before I could get my prison tattoo’?”
    Diane laughed out loud. “That’s funny.”
    Neither of her parents was known for their sense of humor, and her mother had made a joke. Susan and the others laughed, too. Diane was relieved to see it.
    None of them did justice to Glenda’s terrific meal, and all of them apologized to her. Susan and Gerald went out on the terrace to talk. Diane sat in the living room visiting with her parents, trying to steer clear of all the argument traps she usually fell into. That was made easier because both of them were more subdued in their opinions today.
    Then her mother said, “You know, dear, Alan is still very fond of you.”
    Diane started to open her mouth to give some sort of noninflammatory reply, like I could tell by the way he sniffed my clothes, when her phone rang. Whoever it was, she felt grateful.
    “Excuse me.” She looked at the display. “It’s the museum. I need to take this.”
    It was actually David. Diane walked into another room and flipped up her phone to answer.
    “David, hello.”
    “Sorry to bother you at your parents’ home.”
    “No bother.” She felt like giving him a raise for getting her away from her family. “You called at a very fortuitous moment. Did you get my e-mail? It was rather abbreviated because I did it by phone.”
    “Yes, I’m getting on it. The reason I called is to tell you that the crime lab and your osteology lab were broken into. They stole several things out of the crime lab, including a couple of microscopes and some of Caver Doe’s things. They also stole the skeleton from England that was in your bone lab.”
    Diane’s face flushed with anger—not only at the thieves, but at her security guards. How could they let this happen? “When?” she asked.
    “Last night around three A.M.”
    “I’ll leave here as soon as I can make arrangements.”
    “That’ll be a relief. I don’t like cutting your visit short, but frankly, we’ve suddenly got bodies piling up.”

    Diane told her parents that there was an emergency at the crime lab and she had to get back.
    “Oh, no,” pleaded her mother, “With everything that’s happened, couldn’t you stay a little longer? I’ve just gotten to see you after all this time. We haven’t really had time to visit. I’m still so—”
    “Surely, Diane,” said her father, “someone else can handle matters for a few days. We need you here with us right now.”
    Diane could feel her guilt index rising. “I’m sorry to leave sooner than I expected.