One Grave Less

grinned. “I was scared to death when he told me to get to the police station and tell them to go check on Frank’s house and he was going back to help you out. I had no idea how in the world he got all that information out of that short interaction on the steps. I just thought you were stressed out about the Mayan exhibit and the rumors and stuff, and I thought some big hefty-looking security guards were a good thing.”
    “Obviously Liam is very experienced and a good detective. I was in serious trouble. I’m very appreciative of his help, and yours,” said Diane. “You are doing a great job, Andie. Hopefully this mess I fell into will be resolved soon. And if you would like to stay in the museum tonight, you know the couch in my office makes into a bed.”
    “Thanks. What about you?” said Andie.
    “I’ve got one of the new mini bedrooms in the basement near the media-meeting room,” she said. “It’s all very nice.”
    Andie stood. “Thanks. I’ve been terrified I’ll screw up the museum,” she said.
    “That would really be hard to do, so don’t worry,” she said.
    Andie went back to the office and Diane started for the stairs to go down to the basement with the others. She looked up and saw Lynn Webber, the medical examiner, walking through the front doors dragging a huge canvas case behind her, her patent-leather heels clicking on the granite floors.
    “Lynn?” said Diane.
    “I hope you don’t mind. You’ve seen my little apartment, all that glass, and high up near lots of trees. Can I stay here until the storms pass?” she asked.
    “We have some mini bedrooms in the basement . . . ,” began Diane.
    “Got it covered,” said Lynn. “This is my get-the-hell-out-of-Dodge bag. My family think I’m nuts to have gotten something like this, especially when I told them how much it cost. Every time I talk with my brother or my dad, they say, ‘Well, have you used that get-outta-town white elephant yet?’ Well, this is my chance. We are in for some seriously bad weather and I can’t stay in my apartment. I’ll pitch my tent in your basement, if that’s all right.”
    “Tent? Right. I forgot, it comes with a tent and a sleeping bag,” said Diane.
    “You have one?” said Lynn. Her face erupted into a wide grin.
    “No, but David is a real fan. He gave Star a Get Home backpack to keep in her car,” said Diane.
    “I have one of those too. I just love stuff like that. Well, I’ve got everything I need, including my e-book. I’m set. All I need is to borrow some trees from one of your displays . . .”
    Diane looked at her in horror.
    Lynn laughed and laid a hand on her arm. “I’m joking. If you could see your face.”
    Diane smiled. “We have a large room in the basement that is finished but empty. There are restrooms nearby. But be forewarned, some of the staff will be joining you with their sleeping bags . . .”
    “Then I’d better go pick me out some prime real estate,” said Lynn.
    Somehow Diane couldn’t imagine Lynn roughing it in any way, even if the tent was on a polished granite floor with a bathroom ten feet away.
    Diane smiled again. “I’m on my way down to the basement. I’ll show you where the room is.”
    They got on the elevator with the giant canvas bag that was at least four feet long.
    “How are you going to pitch the tent?” asked Diane.
    “I don’t need a tie down and it has its own support structure. I think it will do just fine,” Lynn said.
    And I thought David was strange , thought Diane.
    “I had an idea about Madge Stewart,” said Diane. She explained her thinking about Madge’s art—that she might have made drawings of a man she was interested in.
    “What a brilliant idea,” Lynn said. “I’m sure she did just that. Let me know.”
    Diane knew Lynn wanted to be right about the romantic angle and Madge’s death—she had a feeling she was.
    “I’ll let you know. Neva is checking it out now,” said Diane.
    “How about your other problems, those terrible rumors?” said Lynn.
    Diane looked over at her and realized she didn’t know about last night’s drama. She related as briefly as one could about Frank’s house being under siege and her being kidnapped by the Terminator and taken to the museum to be rescued by her assistant’s boyfriend.
    Lynn stood gaping at her.
    “You think that’s something. I had an argument with my new neighbor over his cat,” Lynn said finally.
    The elevator doors opened and Lynn stepped out.