One Grave Too Many

she were out of the picture, someone else would analyze the bones. She wasn’t the only forensic anthropologist in the world.
    Star was the key. The lead detective, Janice Warrick, thought Star and her boyfriend, Dean, killed her parents. Having put all her money on that theory of the crime, she didn’t want a new theory—a new one that would make her look bad—raising its head.
    Frank was like the king’s pawn, and Star was the king. Take away her guard and she would be checkmated and sent to prison—case closed on the Boone murders. The skeletal remains would be forever separate from the Boone murders—especially if both Diane and Frank were dead. The two of them were the only ones tying the two cases together. It would be forgotten if they were dead and Star was in prison.
    But there was the clavicle. Maybe that’s what the break-in at the museum was about. Take away the clavicle and it would take away the physical connection Frank and she had with the skeleton. There would be the report, but it would just be a rumored bone coincidentally found by George Boone.
    But there was a serious flaw in her argument. Which was the reason she believed the Boones were killed in the first place—so that no one would find out where they found the clavicle, so that no one would find the rest of the skeleton, so that it would never be identified. If Star was in jail and Diane and Frank were dead, the skeleton would still be identified because it was already found. That was a bad flaw, and she was too tired to try to work it out. She finally slipped into a confused, fitful sleep.
    Diane awoke in a panic, feeling that she’d forgotten something, something important. Frank was shot. That was it. He was in critical condition. She felt sick. How many mornings had she awakened in the past year with that blank mind, then those thoughts: Ariel is dead . She got out of bed and called the hospital.
    Critical but stable condition. Critical but stable was good for now. She’d take what comfort she could get. Next she called to check on Star. That wasn’t as good. She’d been moved back to the jail.
    After a shower, juice and a quarter of a bagel for breakfast, Diane went to the hospital. Frank was still in critical care, but they hoped to move him to a room that day. That worried her. Whoever shot him might try again, and he was completely vulnerable. They let her see him for a few minutes.
    He looked better. There was some color in his face. His hand wasn’t as cold when she held it. His grip was stronger.
    “Hey,” he whispered. “Looking good.”
    “Don’t try to talk.”
    “Star?”
    “They moved her back to her cell.”
    “Call lawyer. See her.”
    “Who’s her lawyer?”
    “Serena Ellison.”
    “I’ll call her and make arrangements. Don’t worry about anything. Just get well.”
    He squeezed her hand. “I will.”
    “Take care.”
    She kissed his cheek and left. They wouldn’t let anyone stay long in ICU.
    He did look better. Barring some infection—or attack—he would recover. She allowed herself to be cautiously relieved.
    In the waiting room she saw Cindy and Kevin in a knot of people—two men and a woman, all of whom favored Frank. His family. She started to avoid them, but Cindy saw her and motioned her over.
    She was being exceptionally friendly since their encounter at the museum. Diane felt a little guilty for coming down so hard on her.
    “These are Frank’s two brothers and sister. Frank’s the baby of the family. Diane Fallon is the new director of the museum in town.”
    “Frank’s said a word or two about you,” said one of the brothers.
    Diane thought his name was Henry. Frank and Hank. That must have been a kick in school.
    He took her hand and shook it. “Rather nice words too.”
    “How did Frank look to you?” asked his sister, Ava. She had her hands on Kevin’s shoulders. Both of them looked at her anxiously.
    “He’s doing very well. It was good to see him today. He is so much improved over yesterday.”
    Relief swept across all their faces, especially Kevin’s. “But he’s still in critical care,” said Ava.
    “That just means he has good insurance,” said Diane, and both of his brothers nodded in agreement. “But I think they might be moving him to a private room soon.”
    “I heard you had also been attacked,” said Cindy.
    “What, you too? Were you there?” asked the other brother, Linc. Frank, Hank, and Linc. Diane almost smiled as the names ran through