War and Peas

wasn’t a likely candidate, either, as Jane had never laid eyes on him at the museum and it was hard to imagine him having the strength or stealth to lurk around without being spotted.
    But what of the rest? Jumper was bright and charming, but had an obviously eccentric streak. Babs, too, had a strong personality and her own set of morals. She had admitted killing her husband and made clear she had no regret whatsoever. Lisa had taken on a whole new professional field that didn’t particularly interest her, but had done it because it was the sensible thing—and had done it well. That showed strength of character and determination.
    So did Whitney’s presence today. He was apparently giving his full attention and considerable expertise to the discussion of the traveling-exhibit and building-completion dates while his fiancée lay in a coffin at the funeral home. That couldn’t be easy.
    Even Georgia, more recently bereaved, was participating in the discussion, asking intelligent and pointed questions. Only Caspar Snellen, surly and wary, leaning against the copy machine and glaring at all of them, looked like a murder suspect. But he was basically a coward, hiding behind the law and lawyers to work his many nasty little schemes. Still, a coward could be vicious when cornered. Had Regina cornered him in some way the rest of them knew nothing about? If that were true, why did Derek have to die, too? Jane’s mind kept coming back to Derek’s outburst in this very room. He’d slung around a lot of hateful accusations. Anyone might have heard them. Jane was certain that had led to his death. But perhaps it was what he hadn’t said. Something that the murderer knew or feared that Derek might say next, rather than what he’d already said? That was a fertile field for speculation. Derek had shown that he could go out of control and blab without restraint. Perhaps someone feared that he’d take up where he left off and had to stop him before he could reveal any more secrets.
    There were no more revelations at the board meeting, and it broke up without incident forty-five minutes after starting. The replacement-of-board-member item on the agenda had evidently been postponed. Babs adjourned the meeting as efficiently and briskly as she had convened and conducted it, asking Sharlene to stay for a moment. The others trailed out in twos and threes. Only Jumper, Sharlene, and Babs remained. Babs explained to Sharlene that since it was already Thursday and the museum would be closed the next afternoon for Regina’s funeral, Sharlene’s appointment as acting director would become official the following Monday. Eli had suggested this for the sake of the bookkeeping, since Sharlene’s salary was about to undergo a significant increase.
    Shelley took a fresh supply of forms and subtly tapped her ear, instructing Jane to eavesdrop—an instruction Jane hardly needed. As the computer booted up and Jane prepared to go back to work, Babs was suggesting that Sharlene might spend some of the day rearranging Regina’s office—now Sharlene’s—to her satisfaction.
    “And we’ll need a new secretary,“ Babs said. “I’m afraid we’ll never find another one as good as you. Do you want me to help you find someone?”
    Sharlene thought for a minute. “There was a woman in one of the classes I took early on who was really good. We’ve sort of kept in touch and I think she might be willing to take the job. Let me contact her first.”
    Jane cringed inwardly. That almost sounded like Sharlene had thought this out in advance.
    “Uh—Sharlene,“ Jumper said, “I wonder if—that is—how about a celebration lunch? You and me, I mean,“ he added.
    Jane could almost hear Sharlene blush. “Oh, well—yes. That would be nice.”
    When she’d gone, Jumper said to Babs, “Would you like to come along with us?”
    Babs laughed. “No, I would not! I’m much too old to enjoy being the patient observer of Love’s Awakening.”
    Jumper stuttered something that was almost words.
    “Or even Sex’s Awakening,“ Babs went on with a chuckle. Then she said, more seriously, “Not that sex isn’t a great thing, if it keeps in its proper place. But people like Derek seem to fail miserably in that area. Everything was sex to him. Most of us get sex mixed in a bit with all the other passions, but Derek had it backward.“
    “I’m not sure I understand that,“ Jumper said.
    “And I’m not sure I can explain it,“ Babs said.