Scattered Graves

a special election. As one of my first acts I have reinstated Buford Monroe as chief of police.’’
    Diane looked around the room at the faces. Most were smiling, but there were a few who looked sullen—hired by Peeks, no doubt, they had pooled their fortunes with his; and now it looked like they had picked the wrong side. She wondered if Harve Delamore had been a Jefferies supporter. As she looked over the gathering, she noticed that Pendleton was smiling. Interesting. Maybe he would be willing to talk with her about how Bryce and company han dled the crime scenes.
    ‘‘I’m sure all of you will welcome Chief Monroe back and do all you can to help during this crisis,’’ continued Van Ross.
    Diane hoped he wouldn’t talk long. She wanted to have a word with Monroe. She spotted Colin Prehoda standing with his back to the wall. He nodded when she made eye contact and pointed to a bulky enve lope he had in his hand. She worked her way over to him.
    ‘‘I finally got the security tape,’’ he whispered to her. ‘‘It was found in Peeks’ apartment, of all places. Janice discovered it, thankfully.’’
    ‘‘Have you looked at it yet?’’ Diane whispered.
    ‘‘No, I thought we’d go to your office or mine and have a look,’’ he said.
‘‘I came with Janice and I need a ride back, so let’s go to mine,’’ she said.
Van Ross was ending his speech. He made merci fully short ones. He joked that that was why he was elected president of the city council. Diane, followed by Colin, walked up to the front. Edward Van Ross gave her a hug and mentioned how much his mother was looking forward to the Neanderthal bones. He also offered his sympathies for her injuries.
She shook Buford Monroe’s hand and said softly that she was glad to have him back and that she needed to speak with him. Having just been hugged by Edward Van Ross gave her some political credits, she imagined. They stepped away from the crowd.
‘‘I think it would be a good idea to replace Curtis Crabtree as the primary on the murders. Janice Warrick would be a good replacement,’’ she said, coming right out with what she wanted, hoping frankness was the best way.
‘‘Why?’’ he asked.
‘‘Crabtree isn’t objective, and he seems divided be tween the crime lab and being a detective. I think Janice would be better.
‘‘I can’t be seen to favor Garnett. Even though I believe he is innocent,’’ he added. ‘‘I don’t want to load the deck in his favor by eliminating any detective who isn’t on his side.’’
Diane let the bad metaphor go, even though she hated bad metaphors. ‘‘I understand, and you are cor rect in that position. Janice was reprimanded by Garnett—actually demoted by him—but she has worked her way back up to detective and clearly sees this objectively, the way a good detective should. Put ting her in charge wouldn’t be seen as making a judg ment in his favor; it would be seen as making sure everything is evenhanded and not based on grudges.’’ It wasn’t a good argument. But she didn’t think it had to be. Buford Monroe didn’t like any of Peeks’ cro nies, and he knew that Curtis was one of them.
Monroe was nodding the whole time. That was a good sign.
‘‘There’s merit to what you’ve said,’’ he mused.
‘‘I want all this put behind us and not have it reflect on those who were part of the past administration. I want it done well.’’
Monroe seemed to be considering, but Diane knew he had already made up his mind. He was a political animal, and the idea of clearing the names of those under the last mayor—namely, him—appealed to him. Diane waited patiently.
‘‘Okay, I see your point and I agree. I’ll make the change right away.’’ He looked around at the people still in the squad room. ‘‘I’m afraid there is a lot of housecleaning I’m going to be doing before this is over.’’ He looked like he relished the idea.
‘‘I don’t envy your task,’’ said Diane, still sucking up to him.
He shook his head. ‘‘I don’t either.’’
‘‘Thanks for speaking with me,’’ she said.
He nodded. ‘‘Glad to be working with you again,’’ he said.
Colin was talking with Edward Van Ross, so she sought out Pendleton. He was still hostile, but he agreed to speak with her when she said she was work ing to clear Garnett.
‘‘Can you tell me anything that you thought was out of the ordinary going on at either crime scene?’’ she asked.