One Grave Too Many

notebook. “OK. Look, ladies, from now on, if a van or something like it is pulled in beside your parked car, don’t go near it. Get someone to walk you to your car. Get in on the passenger’s side if you have no choice. Don’t get between the van and your car.”
    “I know that,” said Diane. “I just wasn’t thinking.”
    “It’s not that you haven’t had things on your mind. I’m going to say good-bye to Frank, then get on this. I’ll find out what’s going on. Try not to worry.”
    When Jake left, Diane sent Andie on her way too. The stark hospital room was depressing—so were her thoughts. She could win all the small verbal sparring battles with her adversaries, but winning the war seemed beyond her reach. Right now, unconsciousness was inviting. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
    The ringing telephone didn’t sound like hers, and for a moment Diane didn’t know where she was. She was reluctantly pulled awake, still groggy. She reached for the phone.
    “Diane. I’m so sorry to call you at the hospital.”
    “What’s wrong, Andie?”
    “Mark Grayson. He’s called a board meeting for this afternoon. He says he has all the figures. Donald said they were very persuasive. I’ve called Mrs. Van Ross, and she’s going to come to the meeting. What do you want me to do?”
    “When is it set for?”
    “Three o’clock.”
    “I’ll be there. But don’t tell anyone.”
    “Are you sure you can? I mean, you didn’t look too good.”
    “Will you ask Mike to come pick me up?”
    “Sure.”
    Diane got out of bed, put on some makeup and packed. She took the laptop into Frank’s room.
    “I have something for you to try out. Kenneth Meyers gave it to me. It’s his new field computer. You can drop it from a height of four feet and it won’t break. I think it’s one he wanted you to look at and recommend for the police department.”
    The three Duncan brothers looked at her, dressed, with suitcase in hand. She noticed that their expressions of astonishment made them look almost like triplets. Linc was the first to find his voice.
    “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “I have to go to the museum.”
    “Absolutely not. What did I tell you about rest? That’s not like, take an aspirin and call me in the morning. It’s like, you may have internal hemorrhaging if you don’t.”
    “Diane,” said Frank, “listen to him.”
    “You’re a good one to talk,” said Henry. “You’d be going with her if you could.”
    “Look, Frank,” she said, “I wouldn’t, but Andie just called. Mark’s called a board meeting. I think he’s cooked the numbers, but I can defeat him.”
    “Diane, you told me you have unilateral power.”
    “I do, but with everything that’s been going on, if he has compelling figures—” Anyway, I want to see his face, she thought. “I have to do this. After it’s over, I’ll come back here and rest.”
    Linc was looking really angry. “You are without a doubt the worst patient I’ve ever had. At least when I put athletes in the hospital, they stay there until they’re released.”
    “I’m sorry. I have to do this.”
    “Come back here. I’ll . . . ?” He threw up his hands. “Fix it with the hospital.”
    “Thanks.” She kissed Frank. “You doing OK?”
    “Yeah. Fine.”
    “He’s had some bad dreams,” said Henry.
    “Just reliving the shooting,” said Frank. “It’s nothing. Do what Linc says. He really is a pretty good doctor.”
    “I know.”
    “I’ll walk you downstairs,” said Linc.
    Diane didn’t dare refuse, and he kept muttering his displeasure all the way down to the ground floor. She was relieved when they arrived.
    “If you don’t behave yourself when you get back, I’ll have the hospital put you in restraints.” His face softened into a smile. “But I suppose someone’s already tried that.”
    Diane had to wait a few minutes outside the hospital. There was a constant stream of people going and coming, an ambulance sped to the emergency entrance, someone was changing a flat tire in the visitors’ parking lot. Hundreds of dramas constantly being played out, she thought, as she saw Mike’s Explorer drive up and stop.
    “What’s up?” he asked as he helped her in.
    “Board meeting.”
    “Couldn’t you just skip it?”
    “Not this one.”
    “I didn’t realize being a museum director was so demanding.”
    Diane laughed, and it hurt.
    When they pulled up in front of the museum she was out almost as soon as he