One Grave Less

to hear about this from the media. What can I tell her?”
    Whit wrinkled his brow. “Just what you know now. No details. Tell her not to speak with anyone beyond her household about it. I’m sure it will be in the news soon enough.”
    Garnett nodded in agreement.

    As Diane drove to Vanessa’s, she called her friend,psychiatrist Laura Hillard, and told Laura to meet her at Vanessa’s. She hung up before Laura could question her. Laura was also an old friend of Vanessa and Madge Stewart.
    Vanessa’s estate was in the oldest section of Rosewood. The trees that lined her drive were older than the oldest member of Vanessa’s family, which was saying a lot. Vanessa came from a family of centenarians and super centenarians. The large house came into view and Diane parked in the circular drive, got out, and walked to the door.
    Vanessa’s housekeeper, Mrs. Hartefeld—called either Hattie or Harte by Vanessa, depending on her mood—answered the door. Hattie Hartefeld preferred simply Harte and had often wondered aloud why a parent would have named an infant Hattie.
    “Dr. Fallon,” said Harte, “how nice to see you.” She looked over Diane’s shoulder and saw Laura driving up. “Well, this is a coincidence. Isn’t it?” She looked quizzically at Diane.
    “I called her to come, Harte. Can I speak with Vanessa?”
    “Of course.” She frowned as she opened the door wide and waited for Laura to approach. She let them into Vanessa’s white gilded sitting room and went to fetch Vanessa.
    “What’s all the mystery?” Laura smiled at Diane.
    She thinks it’s about the wedding , thought Diane. This is terrible .
    Vanessa came in dressed in a peach pantsuit, holding her hands out to greet Diane and Laura.
    “What a nice surprise,” she said.
    “I’ll bring some tea,” said Harte, and she turned to leave.
    “Harte, please stay for a moment,” said Diane.
    The three of them stared at her as if just now noticing the stricken look on her face.
    “What is it?” said Vanessa.
    “Something has happened,” said Laura.
    Diane nodded and asked them to sit down. Vanessa, Laura, and Harte sat on the sofa. Diane sat on one of the chairs near the fireplace where Milo Lorenzo’s portrait hung. The museum was Milo’s vision. He had been a professor at Bartrum University and the love of Vanessa’s life. He died of a heart attack before the museum opened. Diane glanced up at him before she spoke.
    “We’ve had a tragedy at the museum,” she began.
    “Oh dear,” whispered Vanessa, putting a hand to her throat.
    “It looks like a drowning,” she said. “I’m so sorry.” Diane felt tears start to sting her eyes. “It was Madge Stewart.”
    The three of them gasped. Harte whimpered and put a hand to her face. Diane knew Harte felt as she did. Like Diane, Harte complained about how Vanessa and Laura babied Madge, saying that she would be a much less obnoxious person if they would stop. Diane had expressed the same sentiments, sometimes in harsher words. Now she felt pangs of guilt. She imagined that Harte did too.
    “What happened?” said Vanessa.
    “I don’t know. Her body was discovered by the grounds crew. They pulled her out of the water in hopes of saving her, but she was gone. Lynn, Garnett, and Whit are there now. I put David in charge of investigating the scene.” The scene . It sounded so harsh and clinical—and sinister.
    “Do you expect anything other than an accident?” asked Laura.
    “No. But they have to investigate,” said Diane.
    “Oh, poor Madge,” whispered Vanessa. “Poor little Madge.” Harte put a hand over Vanessa’s and Vanessa patted it with her other hand. “I’ll handle the funeral. Madge has some cousins, but few other relatives. I can’t believe this,” she said.
    “You’ll keep us informed?” said Laura. “We need to know what happened.”
    “There is something about it that bothers you,” said Vanessa.
    Despite Vanessa’s watery eyes and grieved face, she looked stern. Diane wanted to disappear into the chair.
    Diane shook her head. “Please don’t ask me any questions. Whit has instructed that no one outside of this room even be told of the death until he releases a statement. I asked for special permission to come tell you so you wouldn’t hear it on the news. Let’s wait,” she said.
    “All right, dear,” said Vanessa.
    Diane was glad Vanessa didn’t press.
    Something was bothering her. She didn’t like the way Madge was dressed. And she