The Night Killer

Ready to jump back in and get hurt again.” She raised her head. “What did he say?”
    “He asked me if he still has a chance with you,” Diane said.
    “He did? What did you tell him?” asked Andie.
    “I asked how he is at groveling, and he said he can grovel with the best of them,” said Diane.
    “Oh, hell,” said Andie. “That makes me happy. I hate being that kind of woman—looking for crumbs.”
    “Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on yourself?” said Diane.
    “I don’t know. I just feel so confused.” Andie ran her hands through her hair. “Can I ask you a question? Did you know? I couldn’t help noticing the eye contact when he came in. You seemed to know something,” said Andie.
    “Earlier today I heard his voice in the restaurant and recognized it. I had David look him up. I was concerned about the coincidence,” said Diane.
    Andie wrinkled her brow. “What do you mean, coincidence? And how did you recognize his voice? Why would that matter?” asked Andie.
    “What did he confess to you?” asked Diane.
    “That he is a detective looking for missing persons and thought information the Barres had might shed some light on their disappearance. So he wanted a look at the diary. Is there more? Did he leave out something? Please tell me he didn’t,” said Andie.
    “He was the man in the woods that night who helped me,” Diane said.
    Andie’s eyes grew large. “You’re kidding! He was the mystery guy in the woods? Why didn’t he tell me that?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe he didn’t think it was as important an admission as really being a detective and not a prospective museology student,” said Diane.
    “He did help you, though,” said Andie. “That was good.”
    “Yes, and I really needed help,” said Diane. “And I’m very grateful. If it weren’t for the fact that he was in proximity to the Barres at the time of their deaths, my mind would be at ease.”
    “Do you think he could . . . I mean, it would be hard to believe . . .” said Andie. She paused, staring off at nothing . . . at something inside her head. “What do you think of him?” asked Andie. “Should I forgive him? Could he have killed those people?”
    “I can’t tell you what you should do. But I can tell you what I think of him. He answered all the questions I put to him in a straightforward manner. He appeared to be honest in his answers. I was also near the Barres when they were being killed. Being in the vicinity doesn’t point to guilt. And I have reason to believe he is, when it comes down to it, an honorable man,” said Diane.
    Andie looked over at her sharply. “Are you serious? You trust him?”
    “Most indicators are favorable,” said Diane.
    “Now, what does that mean?” asked Andie.
    Diane smiled. “It means, for now, I don’t mistrust him any more than I do any other person I don’t know.”
    “Do you have any idea how unhelpful that is?” said Andie.
    “You want to go to dinner?” asked Diane.
    “I think I’d rather go home, soak in my tub, eat chocolate, and listen to Lesley Gore’s ‘It’s My Party.’ ”
    Diane laughed. “Walk me to the restaurant then.” Diane stood up and pulled Andie up with her. “You going to be all right?”
    “Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder. And thanks for listening. It helped a lot,” said Andie.
    “You’re welcome,” said Diane.
    On the way to the door Andie stopped. “You know something, don’t you? If you had David look up Liam, then he found out a lot. I know how talented David is about finding out stuff. What is it you know?”
    “Something private. Just because I have access to it doesn’t mean I have the right to tell it. I’d prefer to let him tell you,” said Diane.
    “It can’t be bad,” said Andie, more to herself than to Diane.
    “It’s not bad, just private,” she said.
    Andie nodded.
    They walked together out of the east office wing and through the lobby. The night lighting had already come on in the museum and the visitors were gone. Only staff remained. Diane spoke to the guard on duty in the lobby as they passed through. They walked through the Primate Room and through the door to the large central hallway that led to the restaurant. Diane locked the door behind her. The restaurant was open after the museum’s regular hours. It had its own entrance to the outside at the end of the hallway. Diane walked Andie out to the parking lot and watched her drive off in her car.
    She was