One Grave Too Many

murder of his friends?”
    “Yes.”
    “What do they have to gain by shooting Frank?”
    “Frank and I are the only ones working on an alternate theory of the crime. The police aren’t interested. Frank is the only one protecting Star. Without him, she would stand a good chance of getting convicted. There are flaws in my theory, but I have a gut feeling that what’s happened to us is directly related to the murder of the Boones.”
    “It does seem that way. If you’re correct, then you’re also correct in assuming Frank’s still in danger. What were you going to do before we arrived?”
    “He’s hired security to watch the Boone house—to keep relatives from carrying off Star’s possessions. I was going to ask them to put someone outside Frank’s room. Frank also has friends on the police force here. I’m sure they would be glad to help.”
    “Why don’t you go home and get a good night’s sleep? Have you had one since you were attacked?”
    “I want to get the analysis done as soon as possible.”
    “You and Frank are a good pair. He thinks he’s indispensable too. I hope nothing happens to either of you, or the rest of us are doomed.”
    Diane smiled at him. “I’m not indispensable, but there’s no one here this minute to analyze the skeleton but me.”
    “Yeah, Frank would say the same thing.”
    “How did he get into learning the accordion?” asked Diane.
    Linc grinned at Diane. “Because everyone made fun of it, I think. Frank was a kid totally immune to peer pressure and completely stubborn. He wouldn’t let anyone back him down, and he didn’t care what people thought.”
    “That must have made school rough. His peers must have been on to him all the time.”
    “At first, but Dad taught us to box from the time we could put gloves on and not fall over frontward.”
    “Boxing? Not some martial art?”
    “No, boxing’s the best.” He went into a boxing posture and punched the air. “Once you get your feet off the ground, you’re off balance. We’d love it when the other kids thought they were so cool with their fancy kicks. They were pretty easy to knock down.”
    “He didn’t tell me about the boxing. But I just found out he’s pretty mean on a karaoke machine.”
    “You should see the three of us.”
    Diane laughed. “How about Ava? Is she into karaoke and boxing?”
    “She plays the piano. Quite well. Not into anything physical. She’s the older sister and takes her job seriously. Frank’s really going to get an earful when he’s better.”
    “You have a nice family.”
    “We like it.” He took a long drink of Coke. “Can I have a look at the skeleton?” he asked.
    Diane had finished eating all she could eat, which was two slices from an extra-large pepperoni, mushroom and green pepper pizza. She took a swallow of her water and eyed him closely.
    “Frank asked me to keep an eye on you,” he said in answer to her silent stare. “He apparently knows you quite well.”
    “Sure, you can have a look. I’ll record a few more observations and go home.”
    Korey was still there, but was on his way out. Diane introduced him to Linc.
    “We’re all sorry to hear about your brother,” said Korey, shaking his hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dr. Fallon. Been finding some interesting stuff in that small stack of papers.”
    “We have some pizza left,” said Linc. “Why don’t you take the extra one home with you?”
    Korey looked surprised. “Sure. Thanks.”
    As Korey left, Diane fished the key from her pocket and opened the door to the storage room.
    “This is the mysterious guy,” she said.
    “You don’t have a skull?” asked Linc.
    “Unfortunately, no. I really wish I had it. We could find out what he looks like. The excavators are still looking for it.”
    “You think it was removed?”
    “The vertebrae don’t show it.”
    “What do you know about him?”
    “He grew up in a cool, humid climate, he was a vegetarian but ate fish, he’s been missing for about five years, maybe, judging from the vegetation growth over him.” Diane told him about the stable isotope analysis.
    “I’m impressed.”
    “You should be. I found that out when we had only the clavicle. With all these bones, you’d think I’d be home free.”
    “What about his age and condition?”
    “He’s still undergoing epiphyseal union on all his long bones—from a half to three-quarters fused, including his iliac crest.” She ran her fingers along the top of his pelvic