Dead Secret

said Kendel. “No, the museum proper is just fine. I had security double-check everything here, and nothing seems to have been taken.”
    “I’ll be in shortly and you can brief me on anything I need to know.”
    Diane hung up, then called David and told him she was coming in. He told her that Chief Garnett and the head of security for the crime lab were coming over to meet with him.
    “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
    After David, she dialed Frank’s cell phone and was relieved when he answered immediately. She really wanted to hear his voice. “Hey, babe. You back?”
    “Yes. And I’m so glad to be here.”
    “How were things in Alabama?”
    “Interesting.”
    “That sounds like that Chinese curse—‘May you live in interesting times.’ ”
    “It was something like that. Mother’s home and safe. You had a lot to do with her release, and I wanted to thank you. I’ll fill you in on the details later.”
    “I didn’t do anything but look up a few things, but I’ll accept your gratitude,” he said. Diane smiled into the phone.
    “Guess you heard about the break-in while I was gone. Looks like it’s going to be a busy day. Maybe we can get together for something restful.”
    “I think I can come by tonight. Not doing anything urgent right now. How’s your arm?”
    Diane flexed her arm. “It’s healing. Not quite as sore. You, Star and Neva get along?”
    “We had a good time. Neva and Star played Monopoly and watched DVDs. Can you believe it? Mike’s leaving the hospital today, and Neva’s going to stay with him. There’s been no news on who trashed her place.”
    When Diane hung up the phone she had the sudden feeling she was late for something. It had been just three days, but it felt as though she’d been gone a month, and there were going to be too many things for her to catch up on. She headed out the door. In the hallway she met Mrs. Odell. The woman must have video surveillance, thought Diane.
    Veda Odell was a pencil-thin woman with a long, dour face. The color of her hair and eyes matched and were sort of a gray-brown, almost the color one got when mixing all the colors together. Her skin was milky white and paper thin, showing blue veins. The Odells were a retired couple who had a love of funerals and an allergy to cats.
    “That boy David Goldstein came to see us. He said he works for you. He’s a nice boy. Very interested in our opinion of the Egan rites. Not many young people care about funerals these days.”
    “No, I don’t imagine they do.”
    “He asked us what we thought of the funeral.”
    “I told him that you and your husband are experts,” said Diane.
    Mrs. Odell had a smile as thin as her body, but satisfaction shined in her gray-brown eyes. “Marvin and I gave him quite an education, I can tell you. Told him what a proper funeral should be like. Showed him our collections. Not many people get to see them.”
    Collections of what? Diane wondered, but knew better than to ask. David ought to have an unusual report.
    “Thank you for giving your expert opinion. It should be a great help in our investigation.”
    Diane made her escape down the stairs and out to her car. As she drove to the museum, she couldn’t get the Odells out of her mind. Collections of what?
    The beautiful Gothic nineteenth-century three-story granite structure that was the RiverTrail Museum of Natural History came into view as she turned off the street onto its main drive. The sight made her smile every time she saw it. She hoped it was the same for everyone who visited it. The parking lot was full, including several tour buses—another sight she quite enjoyed.
    Diane went to her museum office first to make a call she dreaded.
    “Good to have you back, Dr. Fallon,” said Andie. “The place is exciting, as usual. David has Detective Garnett—I think that’s his name—at the crime lab.” Andie’s usual excited demeanor was ratcheted up a notch.
    “Thank you, Andie. I’m going over there in a minute, but I need to make a call first. Do you have the file on the Moonhater witch bones?”
    “Sure. I guess you hate telling the guy his bones were stolen.” Andie handed her the file.
    “More than you know.”
    Diane looked at her watch and figured out the time difference. He should be there and awake, she thought. She dialed John Rose’s museum number.
    “Mr. Rose, this is Diane Fallon.”
    “Dear Dr. Fallon. I’m so glad we have been able to connect. I’ve been out of town,