One Grave Less

Cameron.
    “No, I’m afraid I’m somewhat of a baby in that regard,” he said.
    “We appreciate your braving the weather to come here,” said Diane.
    “Had I known you were in for such inclement weather, I’d have had second thoughts,” he said. “But I wanted you to know we have discovered that it was not you who killed the men in South America.” He grinned at Diane. “It was some archaeologist named Lindsay Chamberlain. She must have been the one into drugs also.”
    “I am familiar with her,” said Diane. “Her specialty is archaeology of the southeastern United States. This was her first trip to South America. We believe she was kidnapped and escaped. She has a sterling reputation. I don’t think there is any real possibility she is a murderer or a drug smuggler.”
    “Really? Well, my informants must have been wrong,” he said. “This is very strange. But the important thing is, you are not on our wanted list.” He smiled again.
    “I appreciate that,” said Diane. “One less thing to worry about.” She rubbed her shoulders as if they suddenly felt the extra weight lifted from them.
    The door swung open and Korey Jordan entered, heading toward Diane.
    “Hey, Dr. F.,” he said. “I’m sorry to bother you. I know you have guests.”
    “This is Korey Jordon. He’s our head conservator,” said Diane. “He keeps all our collections in good condition.”
    “Yeah, well, we have some problems there,” he said. “The storm, the electricity, the computers.” He threw up his hands. “The worst has happened—the dermestids are loose in my lab and in several exhibits, including the primate exhibit. I’m thinking they may like resin. This really shit—” He looked at Diane’s guests. “Sorry for the language, but dermestids are a disaster for the museum.”
    Diane’s eyes grew wide. “They’re all over the museum?”
    “Are they dangerous?” said Cameron.
    “Are they mine?” said David.
    “Dermestid beetles are what I and the animal curator use to strip the flesh from bones,” said Diane. “The colonies are sequestered. David keeps mine in the crime lab; the mammal curator keeps hers in her lab. They aren’t dangerous to humans unless you happen to be allergic to them. However, they eat museum exhibits. God, this is a disaster.” She closed her eyes and put her fingertips on her eyelids. “Shit is right. We have to contain this.” She dropped her hands and stood up.
    “Is there anything we can do?” asked Gregory.
    “If you see a bug, step on it,” said Korey. “You know, I hate those things.”
    “I’m sorry. I have to attend to this.” She turned to Cameron. “You look exhausted. We have some bedrooms here that are very nice if you would like to refresh yourself.”
    “I may do that. I would kind of like to be alone. I hadn’t expected this would be so painful after all this time,” he said. “And I am tired.”
    Diane nodded and put a hand on his shoulder.
    “I’ll point him in the right direction,” said Gregory to Diane. “You and David go attend to your bug problem.”
    “Want some moral support?” said Frank.
    “I may need your superior problem-solving skills,” she said.
    The three of them left the room with Korey. Diane felt sick. She felt like she was destroying the museum. How had this happened? The beetles weren’t secured by electric locks.
    “I don’t get it,” said David. “I’m sure our dermestids are secure.”
    “We need to go to the conservation lab first,” Korey said.

Chapter 65
    Diane rushed up the steps to the second floor, toward where the conservation lab was located. Frank and David were close behind.
    “Slow down, Dr. F.,” said Korey. “The beetles are fine.”
    She stopped and swung around to him. “What? Korey? What is this?”
    “This is practically everyone I know being paranoid.”
    Korey looked pointedly at David. David shrugged at Diane.
    “I was supposed to get you up here, but not to trust anyone I didn’t know personally. So I made up a story.”
    “I don’t understand,” said Diane.
    Korey smiled. She thought she saw tears in his eyes, of all things.
    “The environmentals need checking,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “We’re getting too many particulates in the air. Just come to my lab. It will be clear.”
    Diane exchanged bewildered glances with Frank and David, then followed Korey to the lab. Korey shut the door behind him and locked it.
    The first person Diane saw was Jonas Briggs. He