One Grave Too Many

The next time you use it, you rub it with shortening and put it in a four-hundred-and-twenty-five degree oven until it sizzles. That pretty much gets rid of any germs.”
    “Is that one of those Southern things?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’ll have to allow you to bake me a—do you call it anything special? It can’t be a loaf, can it? I remember hearing something about a pone.”
    “Some call it that. I simply call it a pan of cornbread.”
    “You’ll have to make me a pan sometime.”
    “I’d be happy to. Let me know when you plan to come to the U.S. I’d love for you to see my museum.”
    “Marguerite and the boys would love that. I’m planning a trip in a couple of months. I’ll let you know. I’m sorry to hear about your friend Frank, and especially about you. I need to let you get some sleep. It sounds to me like you’re still injured.”
    “A little pain now and then.”
    “Go to bed and get some sleep. Let me know how things progress. I’m still concerned about you.”
    “I know. It’s good talking to you. It really is.” Diane hung up the phone and finally tucked herself into bed. She was glad he called. Gregory had a way of helping keep her feet on the ground.
    Morning came too soon. She slapped the alarm off and dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. The warm water felt soothing on her sore muscles. She thought she must be getting better. No sharp pains, and the soreness in her kidney wasn’t as acute.
    She pulled a pearl gray pantsuit from her closet, slipped it on and grabbed a nutrition bar for breakfast on the way out. The sun was shining. It looked like it was going to be a clear day. A surprise, because rain was in the forecast. She headed for the hospital, praying that Frank was improved.
    Diane slowed down as she approached the front desk. Fear was creeping inside her, fueled by the vision of asking to see Frank and being told he was gone—dead. This is just silly . She marched up to the desk and asked if she could visit Frank Duncan. As she asked, she saw Linc and Henry in the waiting room and walked over to them.
    “He’s stable,” Linc said before she asked.
    “That’s a relief.”
    “You look better too.”
    “Got a little adrenaline rush last night.” She grinned and told them about Mrs. Odell and the draperies. The two of them laughed with her, and it felt good.
    “Thanks for your help last night,” said Diane.
    “I may be mistaken,” said Linc, “but I’d be willing to bet he’s an avid hockey player.”
    “I’m going to call Frank’s partner today and ask him to put out a missing persons query. Maybe we’ll come up with something.”
    “Would you like to see Frank?” asked Linc.
    “Yes. Yes, I would.”
    Linc led her to the ICU and stayed outside the door as she went in. Frank was awake. He looked so pale. She took his hand.
    “Hey,” he whispered. “Thinking about you.”
    “Good, I hope.”
    “Always.”
    “Linc’s been a big help. Did he tell you?”
    Frank nodded. “Interesting.”
    “I met your partner. I thought I’d ask him to put out an inquiry about our guy.”
    “He’ll do that.”
    “I won’t stay long. I just needed to see how you are. Getting an infection wasn’t a good idea.”
    “No. Seemed like it at the time, though.” He gave her a wan smile.
    Diane squeezed his hand. “I saw Star yesterday. She’s OK. Her lawyer’s trying to get her bail. I said she could stay with me.”
    Frank held tightly onto her hand. “Thanks.”
    “Get better.” She kissed his cheek. “There’s something I need you to do for me when you get well.”
    He attempted a grin. “And what would that be?”
    Diane leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Teach me how to box.”

    “How’s he doing, really?” she asked Linc on the way out of the ICU.
    “Holding his own. Frank was never one to overuse antibiotics, so that’s in his favor. He usually responds well to them. That’s always a concern—finding an antibiotic that will work.”
    “Has there been any . . . other trouble?”
    “No. Henry and I are always here. Most of his visitors don’t go into ICU. They’re content to get information from us or the desk.”
    “Perhaps I’m just being paranoid.”
    He smiled. “Maybe, but if you’re not, it’s good to be prepared. Henry and I don’t mind.”
    When Diane left the hospital, she went to the jail. She didn’t expect to be able to see Star, but thought perhaps the person on duty would tell Star she had been there