One Grave Too Many

the department, and he could have somehow gotten his hands on it.”
    “He dabbled in archaeology.”
    “So that fits.”
    “Yes, it does. He later switched over to the Harvard Business School.” Diane was struck by a sudden insight. “Oh, my God,” she said. “That’s not possible.”
    “What?” Jonas looked at her with concern. “Sit down, you look pale.”
    “Jake’s son, Dylan Houser, also went to Harvard Business School around the same time.”

Chapter 49
    She picked up the phone book and looked up the number for the city jail. She dialed and asked for Star Boone, telling them it was an emergency. She knew that would scare Star to death, but if she was right, she wanted to act quickly. It took about ten minutes, but Star came on the line.
    “Is Uncle Frank all right?”
    “Yes, he is, Star. This is Diane Fallon. He’s fine. I’m sorry to have frightened you. I have an important question I need to ask you. It’s important,” she said again. “Did Jay know Dylan Houser?”
    “Sure. They went hunting and fishing together with Dad and Mr. Houser. Jay idolized him.”
    “What did you think of him?”
    “I thought he was an arrogant prick. Mom and Dad thought he hung the moon. What’s this about?”
    “Right now it’s confidential, so don’t tell anyone about this conversation. I mean it.”
    “OK. I can keep a secret. You don’t think . . .”
    “Don’t think about what I just asked. Forget about it. OK?”
    “You’ll tell me later?”
    “Sure. I’ll tell you everything later. I talked to Frank this morning. He’s up and around and looking really good.”
    “When they called me to the phone and said it was an emergency, I was afraid . . .”
    “I know. It is an emergency, just not with Frank. I’m sorry I scared you.”
    “They told me you were in the hospital too.”
    “You have a pretty good grapevine going there.”
    “If it’s something that tortures me, they tell me about it. Actually, Mrs. Torres told me about you. She said her son found you in the lake and you were OK.”
    “I was in the hospital, but I’m fine now.”
    “Is everything going to be all right?”
    “Yes, Star, it is. I don’t think you’ll be there much longer.”
    Diane got off the phone just as Jonas was opening the door for Mike Seger. He had a semicircular cast in his hand. “OK, you going to tell me what I’m doing with this?”
    Diane took the cast from him. “This is great. Thanks. Now, would you mind getting your tire iron for me and meet us in the conservation lab vault?”
    Mike looked at Jonas, who shrugged at him.
    “Sure. Be right back. I have to say, you’re the most unusual boss I’ve ever had.”
    “Why, thank you, Mike.” She smiled at him.
    Mike went on his errand. Diane and Jonas went to the conservation lab, carrying the skull and the cast.
    “You found the skull,” said Annie. Several of Korey’s staff followed her and Jonas into the vault.
    She opened the double boxes and took out the right scapula, the one with the damage, and aligned the cast of the brake disc with the straight indentation in the crushed bone.
    “Not an exact match, but close—it’s a good possibility.”
    Mike came in with the tire iron and laid it on the table. “So that’s why you wanted the cast. You think a jack slipped.”
    “He’d have to slip too,” said Diane. “And somehow end up with his right shoulder under the disc.”
    “That hurts just thinking about it,” said Mike, rubbing his own shoulder.
    Diane set the scapula down and gently picked up the skull and tire iron, fitting the curved heavier end into the compression fracture. It was a good fit.
    “What happened?” asked Mike. “The guy has a car fall on him and somebody caves in his skull with a tire iron? That’s a bad day.”
    “Perhaps the car falling was afterward, to make the murder look like an accident,” said Diane. “But then why dump the body someplace else? I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it.”
    Diane put the scapula back in the box. “Look, guys, don’t mention the bones are here in the vault to anyone. I’d rather people not know it.”
    “Sure thing,” they all agreed and went back to work, muttering about the undesirability of having a car fall on you.
    “Can I put my tire on now?” asked Mike.
    “Yes. You’re a good sport, Mike. I appreciate all your help.”
    “Anytime you need something really odd done, just give me a call.”
    Diane carefully packed the skull and taped the