Scattered Graves

scene. You’ve got to answer some questions.’’
‘‘I have a court order saying I have a right to be here,’’ said Colin. ‘‘We entered and found the body.’’
‘‘Garnett was already there when you entered?’’ said Curtis.
‘‘He had just gotten there, yes,’’ said Colin.
‘‘But you hadn’t asked him to come,’’ said Curtis.
‘‘What I say to a client is privileged,’’ said Colin.
‘‘Garnett just said—’’ began Curtis.
‘‘Nevertheless, what we say to each other is confi dential and protected,’’ interrupted Colin.
Curtis turned to Diane.
‘‘She works for me in my representation of Garnett,’’ said Colin. ‘‘Anything that passed between us is protected as well.’’
‘‘I could put her in jail until she talks,’’ Curtis said, looking at Diane. ‘‘She may still be arrested for kill ing Delamore.’’
‘‘Is that what the GBI said I did?’’ asked Diane.
Curtis ignored her. ‘‘Did any of you touch the body?’’ he asked.
‘‘I did,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I checked to see if he was dead.’’
‘‘He was shot in the back of the head,’’ said Curtis.
‘‘I didn’t know what his wound was,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I only saw blood. He could have needed help. I had a duty to see if there was anything we could do for him.’’
Curtis studied her for a moment. Then he turned to Colin.
‘‘How did you get in the gate?’’ asked Curtis. ‘‘It was locked.’’
‘‘Really? When you got here it was locked?’’ said Colin.
‘‘No, smart guy, the gate has been kept locked since the mayor’s death,’’ he said. ‘‘How did you get in?’’
‘‘I have a court order, and Peeks was meeting me to walk through the house. He said he was going to leave the gate open for me. Presumably that’s what he did.’’
Colin didn’t seem to mind lying to the detective. Diane felt uncomfortable with it, but she understood. She kept her mouth shut and her face noncommittal.
‘‘He said...,’’ began Curtis, and stopped.
‘‘Who said what?’’ asked Colin.
‘‘Nothing,’’ said Curtis.
So, Diane thought, Peeks told at least Curtis he was going to keep them waiting at the gate. That wasn’t a surprise.
‘‘We have told you all we know. Now I’m going to my client.’’ Colin turned and walked off.
‘‘Let him go,’’ said Janice. ‘‘He’s right.’’
‘‘The hell he is,’’ said Curtis, but he didn’t try to follow. Instead he turned his attention to Diane.
She assumed that Colin figured that anyone who could scale a wall could take care of herself. ‘‘Do you have anything to add?’’ he said.
‘‘We came here to look at the house. I don’t sup pose you’d let me do that,’’ said Diane.
‘‘Hell no,’’ he said. ‘‘That court order isn’t any good now. There’s been another murder.’’
‘‘I figured as much,’’ said Diane.
Diane could see that Curtis was in a personal quan dary. He really wanted to do something to her. But at the moment all he could manage was harsh words, and not many of those. He looked as if he would like to smack her right there.
The ambulance arrived at that moment. It came up the drive and halted a few feet from them. Diane was relieved. That gave Curtis something else to think about.
‘‘You know where to find me,’’ she said and turned and walked off as Colin had.
She half expected him to run after her, tackle her to the ground, and handcuff her, but she heard no footfalls. She walked down the drive and out the gate. It was with some relief that she climbed into her SUV and drove off.
She didn’t drive far. At the first opportunity she pulled off the road and took out her cell phone. She sent a text message to Detective Janice Warrick and asked her to take pictures of the house and surfaces. She didn’t know if Janice had a camera with her, but if she did, perhaps she would at least get some views of the interior of the house. Diane didn’t know now how long she would have to wait to get inside the house.
She drove back to the museum and parked in her spot. As she got out and started toward the door, a small Asian woman, about fifty years old, dressed in a pantsuit, with a camera around her neck, ap proached her.
‘‘Are you Dr. Diane Fallon?’’ she asked, smiling.
‘‘Yes,’’ said Diane, smiling back.
The woman handed Diane a sheaf of folded papers. ‘‘You’ve been served. Have a good day.’’

Chapter 19
    Well, this is just great ,