Scattered Graves

Frank,’’ said Andie. ‘‘See you.’’ She was out the door.
‘‘Was it something I said?’’ said Frank, watching Andie leave.
‘‘She’s off to learn about gemstones.’’ Diane paused. ‘‘I’m director of the crime lab again.’’
‘‘You always have such eventful days,’’ he said. ‘‘So, was the crime lab a reward for almost getting killed?’’
‘‘No, it was a reward for not being Bryce,’’ she said. ‘‘Because of him the evidence is now suspect from a whole string of crime scenes processed by the lab, and the city’s dealing with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit from Jennifer Jeffcote-Smith, the forensic anthropologist he hired. Did I tell you I got served on that?’’
‘‘No. For what?’’
‘‘Witness for the complainant. You want some pizza? We have plenty. Izzy’s here.’’ She lowered her voice. ‘‘He’s been here all day. I called him to go with me to the lab in case Bryce decided he wasn’t going to leave. Fortunately, Bryce wasn’t there. Anyway, Izzy just stayed. I’m wondering if Edward or the chief of police sent him as a bodyguard.’’
‘‘That would be good if they did,’’ said Frank. He followed her into her office.
David and the others were discussing the evidence when Diane entered. They stopped when they saw Frank.
‘‘Hey, Frank buddy. How’s it going?’’ said Izzy. ‘‘Come get a piece before it’s gone. These guys in hale pizza.’’
They greeted one another and Frank sat down with a slice and a cold soda from Diane’s fridge. Diane caught him up on everything they had discovered so far.
‘‘I called Janice and told her Curtis Crabtree is re lated to Edgar Peeks,’’ said Diane. ‘‘I don’t know if that will mean anything. I also told her about the con versation in the supply closet.’’
‘‘Conversation in the supply closet?’’ said Neva. She laughed. ‘‘Who was Crabtree talking to in the supply closet? And why?’’
‘‘He and Bryce were talking. It’s the conversation you interrupted, David,’’ she said.
‘‘How the hell did you know about that?’’ he asked, laughing. ‘‘I saw them go in and I wondered what they were up to.’’
‘‘The supply closet is next to my lab, and the wall is thin. There wasn’t much to the conversation, not much more than what I learned from Jin and Izzy. Apparently it was Crabtree’s job to get employment in the DNA lab. Now it appears that it was part of some master plan to get the crime lab, the DNA lab, and the osteology lab,’’ said Diane.
‘‘What balls,’’ said Neva. ‘‘I can’t believe it. Did they really think they could do that?’’
‘‘They seemed to. What I don’t know is what their master plan was supposed to lead to exactly. David pointed out that the crime lab would be a great thing to control if you were in the crime business—you could frame or free anyone.’’
‘‘I’ll say,’’ said Neva.
‘‘I also asked Janice if they had searched Peeks’ residence. She had, and found nothing that would sug gest why they had been killed, nor anything to suggest they had been involved in illegal enterprises. Peeks did appear to be living way beyond his means. With Jefferies it’s more difficult to tell because of his busi ness in Atlanta. It’s successful and might account for his income.’’
‘‘Could Jefferies have been paying Peeks?’’ said Jin.
‘‘What for?’’ said Diane. ‘‘That’s the thing. What was the business really? Were they just a new criminal organization we haven’t heard of? Did they deal in drugs? What? It’s scary to think about. They get rid of a judge and have a new one appointed and—’’
‘‘Wait? Get rid of a judge?’’ said Neva. ‘‘What are you saying?’’
Diane realized she hadn’t told them about the tainted evidence from the murder scene of Judge McNevin and about David’s suspicions. She nodded to him and he laid out all the evidence for them.
‘‘That’s why I quit,’’ he said.
Jin, Neva, and Izzy sat with their mouths open. When David finished, no one spoke for several moments.
‘‘But the mayor doesn’t appoint judges,’’ said Neva.
‘‘He could influence the choice,’’ said Izzy. ‘‘He’s been making cozy with the governor. If the newspa pers can be believed, they shook hands a lot. There was a photo op of them every other day. Evie was in one of them for her work on drugs. She said the gover nor liked the young can-do attitude of