One Grave Less

would I be doing sending your husband an e-mail like this?” said Diane.
    Sybil waved her hand toward Diane. “Just what it says.”
    Diane pinched the bridge of her nose and looked back up at Sybil.
    “I’m engaged to a wonderful man. I have a terrific job and great friends. If I were going to run the risk of losing my fiancé, my job, and the respect of my friends by soliciting an affair, it would be with George Clooney and not your husband. I didn’t send this. Obviously, my e-mail was hijacked.”
    “You think this is funny? We’ve been married thirty-seven years. It’s not funny to me.”
    “No, Mrs. Carstairs, I think it is anything but funny. Someone is trying to harm my reputation and I take that very seriously. Quite frankly, I’m surprised that you would take this seriously. Hijacking e-mails is not an uncommon occurrence. What does your husband say?”
    “He denies that there’s anything going on. And I believe him. He doesn’t know why you would send him a message like that.”
    Her raised chin made her look defiant and a little juvenile. Clearly neither of them knew anything about the pitfalls of computer mail.
    “I did not send this. I hardly know your husband. I know that the two of you are generous to the museum and we are grateful. This is a terrible thing someone did and I’ll try to get to the bottom of it. But I have to tell you that it is almost impossible to trace this kind of thing.”
    Sybil was still angry. Diane wasn’t sure if it was because she wasn’t convinced, or because she was emotionally all geared up for a confrontation and found there was nothing to confront about. She stood up.
    “I’ll be watching you,” she said. “And I’ll be speaking with Vanessa Van Ross.”
    “Then I’m sure she’ll put your mind at ease.” Diane rose to see her out.
    Sybil left. Walking stiffly with her head held high, she marched out of the office without glancing back.
    “Boy, what was that about?” asked Andie.
    She had her springy brown-red hair held away from her face with silver hair clips that Diane thought probably came from her boyfriend. Diane explained about the e-mail.
    “I’ll get David to try and track it down, but I don’t think there is much success in cases like this.”
    She made light of it, but she was worried. First the rumor about drugs, then the call to Frank about her entertaining men, and now this. She needed to get to the bottom of it.
    “Another day at the museum,” said Andie. “Are all museums like this?”
    “You thinking of looking for another job?” Diane grinned at her.
    “And miss all the drama? Nope. Just wondering.”
    Diane made an internal assessment of her state of mind and decided that her heart was not in administrative work right this minute. She looked at her watch.
    “I’m going to visit someone in the hospital. Hold the fort. . . .”
    The phone rang and Andie answered it. She held it out to Diane.
    “Thomas Barclay,” said Andie, wrinkling her nose.
    Diane was glad they didn’t have video phones.
    “Thomas, what can I do for you?” said Diane.
    Barclay laughed. “Funny you should ask. I just called to let you know that someone’s hacked into your e-mail account. That is, unless you are soliciting an assignation.”
    “Oh, no. Not you, too?” said Diane. She told him about Sybil Carstairs.
    “I know Edmond. I’ll talk to him,” he said.
    That was the nicest that Barclay had ever been to her. Diane was suspicious.
    “I would appreciate that very much,” she said.
    “This happened to my daughter. It’s an aggravation, but most people know it’s a hoax.”
    “I hope you’re right,” said Diane. “Thank you for your call and your help.”
    When she hung up, Andie was looking at her with suspicion. Diane knew it was for Barclay.
    “I think he is just being helpful,” said Diane. For once . “I’m gone. You’re in charge.”
    Diane stopped by the museum shop and bought Simone a plush gorilla that had just arrived. Simone loved jungle animals, especially gorillas. She called David and he met her outside by his black Land Rover. They drove to the hospital.
    On the critical care floor Diane asked about Simone Blake.
    “Your names, please?” asked the nurse, eyeing the rather large gorilla.
    “Diane Fallon and David Goldstein,” she said.
    “I’m sorry, the family has asked that the two of you not be allowed to see Miss Blake.”

Chapter 14
    Someone from an embassy had taken Rosetta. That startled