One Grave Too Many

to the skeleton and the faunal lab break-in. Someone close knew she was trying to identify the skeleton. Close. How close? Could they have a job in the museum?
    She called up on her computer a list of people hired in the last week. There were several: one custodian, the exhibit designer hired a carpenter, Donald hired an assistant, she’d hired Melissa and Alix, and two of the curators brought in graduate assistants. That was it. But anyone could come in and not be noticed. Because of all the work there was a lot of temporary help coming and going, not to mention the people working on the restaurant. Diane closed her eyes and tried to think. She didn’t really know where to begin, nor did she want to investigate her employees—sneaking around in Donald’s office had left a bitter taste in her mouth. On the other hand, checking out her employees had turned up Leonard’s connection to Grayson.
    She turned off her computer and told Andie she was going home to get a good night’s rest.
    “Good. I’ve been concerned about you.”
    “I’ll get plenty of sleep tonight. Provided my neighbor doesn’t try to search my apartment again.”
    “What?”
    “Didn’t I tell you about that?” Diane related the story and had Andie in stitches.
    “What strange people. So it’s the landlady who has the cat?”
    “Yes.”
    “Nice of you not to squeal on her.”
    “I think she’s going to give it away.”
    “If she can’t find a home, I’ll take it.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “I love cats.”
    “I’ll let her know.”
    Before she went home, Diane went to the hospital. They had put Frank in a private room. Linc was there reading a newspaper when she entered. Frank was asleep. Diane tiptoed in.
    “How is he?”
    “Better,” said Linc.
    Frank opened his eyes. “Hey. I was wondering when you were going to come see me.”
    Diane kissed him on the cheek.
    “You can do better than that. You want to give my brother the wrong impression about us, after all I’ve been telling him?”
    Diane kissed his lips. “I just didn’t want to get you too excited.”
    “I could use a little excitement. The hospital’s a drag. What’s new?”
    “Quite a lot. My head conservator’s solved the Mark Grayson mystery.” She told him about the paintings.
    Linc whistled. “Damn, brother, we could go over with a chain saw tonight and make out with a bundle.”
    “I’m surprised Mark hasn’t resorted to that. What are you going to do about it?”
    “I don’t know yet.”
    “That’s a lot of money,” said Frank. “You think Grayson is behind the attack on you?”
    “I’ve thought of it, but we had an attempted break-in of the faunal lab and the guy apparently visits the same tailor as my guy—mask and all.”
    “That’s interesting. What do the police say?”
    “They’ll get back to us.”
    “I’ll talk to Izzy,” said Frank.
    “He was the one who took the call.”
    “I’ll talk to him anyway. He may not have put the two together.”
    Diane didn’t say anything. She glanced at Linc, who met her eyes.
    “How are you feeling?” asked Linc.
    “I’m going home to get a good night’s sleep.”
    “I think that’s a good idea.”
    “How’s Star?” asked Frank.
    “She’s doing better. She’s brokering jobs for the guards.”
    “What?” asked Frank.
    She told him about Star’s guard’s looking for a job for her son. “It’s not a big job, and if it’ll get Star better treatment . . .”
    Frank took her hand. “You’re a jewel, Diane. Go home and take care of yourself. I’ve got plans when I get out of this joint.”
    Diane kissed Frank again before she left. “You take care of yourself, if you plan to carry out your plans.”
    She was tired—a soft bed would feel good. She pulled out her car key, said good-bye to Frank and Linc and walked outside, glad to get away from the sterile smells of the hospital.
    Approaching her car, she frowned. Someone in a van had parked so close to her driver’s side it was going to be a close fit getting in. She squeezed between the vehicles and clicked her car door open just as someone grabbed her from behind and pulled a hood over her head. She heard the side door of the van slide open.

Chapter 42
    Diane fought hard, grabbing at the hands restraining her and tried to scream. A sharp blow from something hard as steel to the back of her head caused an overwhelming pain inside her skull, and everything went black for several seconds. She was stunned nearly to