One Grave Less

on how enormous amounts of money can be stolen in a fraction of a second.
    No one talked about anything that was at the top of their list of concerns, and none of them asked Steven why he was here. He hadn’t returned Gregory’s calls and when David finally got in touch with him, he seemed vague, only cursorily sympathetic and rather distant. Now here he was.
    The waitress came with drinks. Diane had ordered Frank tea the way he liked it. All of them ordered steak. Diane guessed that they, like her, were hungry for red meat. Steak and potatoes were good food for when the going got tough. When the orders were taken and the waitress left, Steven put his palms on the table, fingers spread, almost like a gesture of surrender.
    “This isn’t easy,” he said. “I know, David, Gregory, I blew you off. Honestly, I didn’t want to hear from anyone from . . . from that time. The memories are still vivid, and I guess they always will be. I remember the smells, the colors, the sounds . . . the horror. I just like to keep them tucked away. I know I showed little sympathy for the predicament you’re in. It’s not that I wasn’t sympathetic, I just didn’t want to revisit that time.”
    He took a drink of his tea. “Nice,” he said and set it down on the table. He paused for several moments. No one urged him on. They waited, sipping their own drinks.
    “I was actually in Canada when I talked to you, David. I flew back to Washington in a friend’s private plane. When we landed at the airport, I was met by the FBI. They and the DEA searched the plane. Said they were just following up a tip. They searched me and they searched my luggage. They didn’t find anything and said everything was fine. Just routine. It was all hush-hush, didn’t make the news, and everyone was polite.”
    He took another long drink. He seemed to be summoning his strength.
    “I know that world—politics. It wasn’t routine. And I know no one will mention it. My supervisors won’t call me in and question me about it. They won’t say anything. I also know I won’t be promoted. Ever. Operationally speaking, in Washington rumors are treated as true. Can’t afford the risk they might be true, so better be safe than be hit with a scandal later. If I don’t find out who did this and why, my career is over.”
    He looked at each of them around the table. “So I came here. To help and to get help. I’m just sorry it is so self-serving.”
    No one said anything for a moment. Diane spoke first.
    “The massacre was the most horrible thing that ever happened to any of us, and we all dealt with the tragedy in our own way. I don’t judge anyone’s way of dealing with it.”
    “That’s the truth,” said Gregory. “We are all a little self-serving about this secret rumor mill that’s churning away somewhere. We are glad you are here. It’s very nice to see you again, Steven.”
    Steven smiled, then grinned. “Truthfully, it’s nice to be here. It wasn’t that I didn’t like you guys.”
    The salads came, then the steaks shortly after that. Steven spent the time telling Frank about himself.
    “Your accent doesn’t sound South Carolina,” said Frank, pushing his salad away and attacking his steak.
    “Something I’ve worked on. When I went to college, I decided my accent might hold me back.” He tilted his head and smiled. “Youth can be cruel. I probably wouldn’t do it now, but at the time I was desperate to change it, ignoring my parents’ and grandparents’ hurt feelings. I come from an old family, the kind of family that has only a handful of names it uses for their children. We have several Steven Gavins in our family.” He smiled and turned to Diane. “So, Diane, a museum. Do you like being director?”
    “Very much,” she said.
    “She also directs the crime lab here,” said Gregory. “Plus, she’s back to being a forensic anthropologist. Our Diane wears many hats.”
    Through the rest of the entrée they discussed the museum. During desserts of chocolate cake, pecan pie, and cheesecake, David and Gregory caught Steven up with their lives since South America. Steven thanked Gregory for helping him get on at the State Department, looking chagrined when he did it. Diane was sure he had thanked Gregory at the time. He probably felt it needed repeating. On the whole, it was a pleasant conversation. Nevertheless, Diane found it a little strained.
    It wasn’t until after-dinner coffee that they talked about what was