One Grave Less

we knew are still working there.”
    “If you could do something,” said Jonas, looking from Diane to Liam. “She’s a great kid.”
    “She sounds resourceful,” said Liam.
    “You have no idea,” said Korey. He put an arm on Jonas’ shoulder. “If anyone can get out of trouble, it’s Lindsay. You know that.”
    “But lost in the jungle with people like that . . .”
    “She managed to crush a man to death in the middle of the jungle,” said Liam. “The people who pass for authorities down there were trying to figure that one out when I talked with them.”
    Korey stared at Liam. “Crushed a man to death? You’re kidding, right?”
    Liam smiled. “No, dead serious. The whole thing was so peculiar I wasn’t sure what to believe. This puts a new twist on it.”
    Jonas nodded. “I’m glad we came up here. They are looking in Peru for her.”
    “Why don’t the two of you go home and get some sleep?” said Diane.
    “Good idea,” said Jonas.
    Jonas was about to stand when Star, Frank, Gregory, and Chief Garnett walked into the break room.

Chapter 57
    It was almost morning and Diane’s head hadn’t yet touched a pillow. Neither had anyone else around her been to bed.
    The museum’s basement meeting room was decorated like a club lounge, with stuffed chairs, dark oak tables, large viewing screen, walls lined with bookcases and sofas. It was all brand-new, part of the recent renovations. It was a room Diane liked. Now it housed refugees from attacks Diane still didn’t quite understand.
    There was so much to talk about with everyone there, but she needed to speak with Frank first while she still had the courage. They sat in two stuffed chairs near each other but away from everyone else.
    “Are you all right?” he asked. “You’ve been through a rough time.”
    “Liam is a good field medic,” she said. “He patched up my arm again.”
    She paused, trying to control the tears threatening her resolve.
    “Look, Frank, I can’t do this to you, damn it. Look at Star over there, clutching the bug-out backpack David gave her. She can’t even get to sleep. Your house . . . and you . . . what you’ve been through. Not to mention your neighbors . . . what they must think . . . a war breaking out in the neighborhood.”
    “What are you saying?” he said.
    Diane could see in his eyes, he knew what she was getting at.
    “How can I marry you, knowing the kind of things I bring down on your head?”
    “Are you going to quit your job at the museum? The crime lab? Are you going to go live on a remote island away from everyone?” said Frank.
    “Perhaps. I may lose my museum job anyway. Vanessa has lost confidence in me.”
    “I doubt that,” he said.
    Diane shrugged, trying hard not to reach for Frank.
    “This is a pretty good sign I shouldn’t get married. I’ll never know what kinds of things in my past are going to come back and kick me and everyone around me.”
    “You don’t believe in signs,” he said.
    Diane’s lips turned up the smallest amount. “I should.”
    “Before you make a decision, wait until this is resolved. Who knows, perhaps there will come a sign that we should marry,” he said.
    “I can’t imagine what that could be,” she said.
    “Don’t make a decision today. And when you do, include me in it,” Frank said.
    “Aren’t you afraid of me?” said Diane.
    “I’m afraid of that vanload of supersoldiers running loose,” he said. “They are the problem, they and whoever hired them. That’s who I want out of my life. Not you.”
    Diane watched Frank for several long moments. “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you, or Star, or your son, Kevin. Thank God he’s with his mother right now.”
    “I know. But we also can’t let the worst of humanity have that much say over how we live our lives. That is also unacceptable.”
    “You already had to build a panic room because of me,” she said.
    He smiled. “And it works pretty well. Look, Diane, I’ve had my share of bad guys wanting to get even. You aren’t the only one who draws fire. Your enemies are just more over-the-top lately.” He reached over and took Diane’s hand, rubbing the top of it with his thumb. “Just wait before you make a decision.”
    “Wait for a sign?” she said, smiling.
    “Or at least until things have calmed down,” he said.
    Diane didn’t say anything. She was pretty sure she would not change her mind. Her own family wasn’t speaking to her because of what was