One Grave Less

was the scope of the search for her. Yes, it was low-tech. Couldn’t get much lower than paper flyers on a telephone pole. But it covered hundreds of miles, and whoever it was had access to an army of people from all over to call on. What did they want with Diane Fallon? Was Diane safe where she was?

Chapter 44
    Diane stood in the doorway of the living room watching across the small slate-tiled foyer as Frank, Gregory, and Star made temporary repairs to the door so they could secure it for the night. Actually, Frank and Gregory worked on the door. Star supervised and entertained.
    “So, Marguerite tells me you want to be a lawyer,” Gregory said to Star as he held the door while Frank settled it on its hinges.
    The door was patched with lumber Frank had in the garage. Tomorrow he would get a new door—probably have workmen come out and replace the wood doorframe with steel.
    “Yes,” answered Frank, before Star could say anything. “It will be a partnership. Diane and I will put them away, and Star will get them out.”
    The three of them laughed. Diane smiled at them having such fun repairing a door knocked down by predators. The fact that the predators were after her wasn’t lost on her.
    “I was lucky,” said Star. “I had Uncle Frank and Diane when I was accused. A lot of people don’t have anyone.”
    Frank looked up at Diane and smiled, as if he’d sensed her presence.
    “You look like the cat who’s discovered how to open the refrigerator,” said Frank.
    “I know what’s going on. I know what Oliver was concerned about and what Simone was investigating . . . just not the who ,” said Diane.
    Gregory almost dropped the door. Star moved quickly to help him catch it.
    “What? How did you find out?” he said. “You discovered this since we got here?”
    “I called Martine,” she said.
    Frank and Gregory slipped the door firmly on the hinge. Gregory and Star stepped away so Frank could check the drag. He moved the door back and forth.
    “She spoke with you?” asked Gregory.
    “I’ll go make us some hot chocolate and we’ll talk,” said Diane.
    As she turned, her left shoulder burned at the same time a loud report filled the room with startling noise. Diane fell back against a small table, going down with it and several of Star’s porcelain figurines she had brought back from Paris.
    Frank had been behind the door, adjusting the hinges. He slammed it closed at the sound. Gregory was pushing Star back from the door and to the floor, shielding her with his body.
    “Star! Diane!” shouted Frank.
    “I’m all right,” shouted Star.
    Gregory shoved her away from the front wall of the house and she crawled to an inner wall and sat with her back to it, drawing up her legs, making herself small. She had her cell phone out, punching 911.
    Frank hurried in a half crouch toward Diane.
    “High-powered,” Gregory said. “Stay away from the front wall, everybody.”
    “Diane,” said Frank.
    “I’m okay,” she said. “Just really pissed off and, shit, I burned my shoulder on something.”
    “Damn,” said Frank. “You’re shot. Don’t move.”
    Diane put a hand on her deltoid and came away with blood on it.
    “I’m all right,” she said. “I may have cut myself on the glass.”
    Frank reached around her and helped her off with her jacket and pulled back her blouse.
    “You’ve been creased by a bullet,” he said. “Gregory, look after her. I’m getting my gun.”
    “I’m really all right,” said Diane.
    To prove it, she stood and righted the table and started picking up Star’s figurines of dancing ladies in fancy dresses.
    “Sit down on the rug here, near the sofa,” said Gregory, leading her to the couch.
    Diane heard Star on the phone with 911.
    “No, I’m not in the panic room this time. Yes, I’ll keep the line open. I think Diane Fallon has been shot; she’s bleeding. I’m all right, just mad as hell and really tired of this. I’m putting you on my Twitter account.”
    Diane smiled. “Really, it’s nothing,” she said to Gregory. “What is Frank doing?”
    “Getting armed,” said Gregory. “We don’t know what is going on. I’m going to move you and Star to the safe room and help Frank.”
    “I’m fine here,” said Diane. “Get Star into the room. She’s still out in the foyer. Where is Frank? I don’t hear him.”
    “Don’t worry about that now. Just put your hand over my handkerchief here and hold it firmly. I’ll get Star, though she