Scattered Graves

not a friend.
‘‘Well, Warrick overheard the mayor talking to
Peeks about replacing you as director of the museum,’’
he said.
Diane laughed. ‘‘What? The mayor has no authority
over the museum or me.’’
Izzy nodded and gestured with his hands. ‘‘I know,
but you see, that’s the way they look at everything.
You’d think Jefferies was elected emperor of the uni
verse and not mayor of Rosewood. They’re crazy. And
let me tell you, you were making them crazier.’’ ‘‘Who knew I had so much power,’’ Diane com
mented drily. ‘‘Did they say how they proposed to
replace me?’’ said Diane.
‘‘No, but I wouldn’t have put anything past them,’’
said Izzy.
Diane hadn’t liked the mayor, or the people he as
sociated with, and had serious doubts about which di
rection their moral compass pointed, but still she was
surprised at the picture Izzy was painting of them. She said, ‘‘I know they wanted Garnett to lie about
who the forensic anthropology lab belonged to, but
how could they possibly think they would get away
with that? I keep more records than the IRS.’’ ‘‘I don’t know. They just like to throw everything
at an enemy at once, hoping to overwhelm them, I
suppose. Make them more willing to negotiate. That’s
why they threatened to arrest you, you know. They
don’t have much of a prayer to do that.’’
‘‘Why?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘Because the bottom of the gorge is just across the
county line. The GBI handled the scene. Didn’t you
know that?’’
Of course, the county line; she had forgotten. Diane
felt an overwhelming sense of relief. She realized that
she was truly afraid that she was going to be arrested
and framed.
‘‘You been worried about that?’’ he said. Diane nodded.
‘‘Can’t say as I blame you. Who knows how those
people think? They might have tried to come up with
something. I know they would have pulled some other
dirty trick out of their hat to back up what they were
saying about your bone lab. They would have given
you a run for your money. Kept you real busy dealing
with them anyway.’’
‘‘Tell me more about Garnett and the mayor,’’ said
Diane.
Izzy sat back on the couch.
Diane could see this was going to be a long conver
sation. ‘‘Would you like me to have the restaurant
send us up lunch?’’ she asked.
‘‘That would be nice,’’ said Izzy. He grinned. ‘‘You
sort of have a little kingdom here, don’t you?’’ ‘‘A lot of people think so,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Sort of queen of your domain,’’ he said. ‘‘No, just the queen’s knight. Vanessa’s the queen,’’
said Diane.
‘‘I hear you there. Lunch would be nice. I tend to
skip meals since Evie’s been working with this anti
drug group. She’s trying to make some meaning out
of Donald’s death. I guess I should learn how to cook,
but I don’t have much of an appetite anymore.’’ Diane ordered a couple of steaks, baked potatoes,
a salad, and chocolate cake, and asked that it be
brought to her office.
‘‘I won’t turn down a good steak,’’ said Izzy. He
looked like he might have found his appetite. Diane took a pile of books and papers off the table
and readied it for lunch. She and Izzy made small talk
until it arrived. He seemed to appreciate the break.
Diane knew what a struggle it was for him and his
wife—looking for meaning where there was none,
looking for closure that didn’t exist.
‘‘They tell me you moved from your apartment,’’
he said.
‘‘They asked me to leave,’’ said Diane. ‘‘Too many
things happening in and around my apartment for them.’’ ‘‘I hadn’t heard that. Who asked you to leave?’’
said Izzy.
‘‘My neighbors. They met with my landlady and
took a vote.’’
‘‘You know that’s not legal,’’ said Izzy. ‘‘You could
have fought it.’’
‘‘I know, but I understood their position. Sometimes
you just need some peace,’’ said Diane.
Izzy nodded. ‘‘You’re right about that. Sometimes
you just need peace.’’
He stared off in the distance for a moment, then
looked back at her and gave half a laugh as if embar
rassed for getting lost in thought.
‘‘How’s Frank treating you?’’ he said. ‘‘He hasn’t
played that accordion of his for you, has he?’’ Diane laughed. ‘‘No, but he is teaching me the
piano,’’ she said.
‘‘Piano. That’s nice. Evie plays a little bit.’’ It didn’t take long for the order to arrive. Izzy
looked at