"Being tall isn't rare among young men these days, even young men with a Harvard education," he said.

"I know. George Boone may have hit his attacker with a bat. Dylan has a bruise."

"How do you know?"

"I was told by someone who knows him," said Diane.

"That's something, but not much. He's an active boy."

"Whoever kidnaped me knew the skull was missing. It wasn't a secret, but not many people knew. One of the people who was in a position to know was Dylan's father."

"Now, hold on here."

"I know, Sheriff, but just listen. You can tell me I don't know what I'm talking about later."

"I'll do that."

"Jake Houser also knew that the bones had been there for several years. Not many people knew that either. And before you ask, that's very tenuous. It's based on a reaction he had."

Diane explained about Janice Warrick not knowing how long the bones had been dumped, but Jake did.

"I know that's very little, but why didn't Warrick know? She's been following everything I do, and Frank's partner sent her the report on the bones. There's a possibility that the report was intercepted so no one would query missing persons."

"So you think Jake's son, Dylan, for one reason or another killed this Kavanagh kid and dumped the body. George finds evidence of it, and he and his entire family have to be killed because any member might know where the bone came from. One thing led to another, and Dylan had to go after you and Frank to keep his secret. Jake found out and is trying to help his son cover everything up. Is that about it?"

"I know the whole argument leaves a lot to be desired. But what if Dylan was friends with Aidan Kavanagh, and Kavanagh just happened to disappear in his hometown?"

"I'll grant you, flimsy though your argument is, it makes a kind of sense. But why go to all that trouble to kill the Boones when he could just deny knowing anything about Kavanagh?"

"I don't know. That's a good point. It might be that he's going into a career where there can't be a hint of scandal. Will you talk to Dylan?"

"I'll talk to him. I'll confirm first that they did go to the same school at the same time with the same major. That's enough right there. As for the rest, well, we'll see."

"One last thing, Sheriff. When I was attacked the first time, I jerked one of my attacker's fingers back really hard, left a bad bruise on one of his arms where I bit him and kicked his shins half a dozen times."

"That ought to be pretty easy to spot," he said. "You're a d.a.m.n tough woman."

As Diane and Jonas sat playing their game of chess, she tried out her reasoning again with him. He looked as skeptical as the sheriff had sounded.

"I know it's a terrible thing to accuse someone of anything they didn't do, especially something so dreadful as a multiple murder."

"I'm not saying your logic, as far as it goes, isn't sound. But it's the 'as far as it goes' part that's troubling. You're right. It's very tenuous."

"I know. There's no proof. Do you want to resign?"

Jonas looked startled. "What?"

"You can't win. I've got you beat in five moves."

"Oh, you scared me. I thought this was a side of you I hadn't seen. The woman who can't handle disagreement." He chuckled and scrutinized the chessboard.

"I don't believe it. You're right. There's no way I can get out from under all the ways you have me pinned and forked. How did this happen?"

"When you fell for my queen sacrifice."

Jonas met her gaze. "You are a devious woman."

"I didn't have a lot to do when I spent the night in the lake, so I worked out my chess strategy. Too bad I can't apply that to this case." She thought for a moment. "Perhaps I can. I need to call up the sheriff and ask him if he's talked to the Housers yet."

Chapter 50

Diane sat in her office looking over exhibit proposals. She'd sent Andie on an errand and told her to just go home after she was finished. Her hand shook as she took a sip of hot tea, and she almost jumped when the knock on the door finally came.

"Yes?"

Jake Houser stood in the doorway with his gaze on Diane. She took another sip of tea and forced herself to be steady.

"Jake. How's Frank's case going?"

"Dead end," he said.

"You mentioned you may be quitting the museum. Are you here to resign?"

"Partly. It's not working out for me here."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Diane.

Jake sighed. "I did like it here." He paused. "You had a daughter, I understand."

"Yes. She was murdered."

"A terrible thing. Our children are our heart. There's just nothing we wouldn't do for them." He fingered the geode on her desk.

"Almost nothing," Diane agreed. "Do you need a letter of recommendation?"

There was another knock on the door. Both of them started. Diane looked at her watch. "It's getting a little late for visitors," she mumbled. "Come in."

Vanessa Van Ross, dressed in a white knit pantsuit that matched her hair, came into the room accompanied by her driver. "There you are. I didn't expect to find you working. You haven't been here the last three times I've come to talk with you."

Diane stood up. "Mrs. Van Ross, I'm so sorry. Things have been . . ."

"I really don't want to hear excuses." She turned to Jake. "Young man, will you wait in the other office?"

Jake looked a little confused and reluctant. He shrugged and walked into Andie's office. He didn't look good, and Diane was worried about him.

"Diane, Milo really thought you had potential. So did I, frankly, but this episode with the bones and the publicity, the fiasco with the Graysons. The board can't get rid of you, but I can. I don't want to. I wish I didn't have to. I like you. But . . ." She shook her head. "You have a week. I'm putting Donald in charge until we find a replacement."

"Mrs. Van Ross, what are you saying? You can't just fire me without some kind of . . ."

"Yes, I can. Read your contract."

"I know things have been a little rough lately. But I think if you'll just let me show you what I've done here, you'll see the museum is doing well. Why are you doing this?"

"Have you seen the newspapers? The museum doesn't need that kind of publicity. We haven't even opened our doors yet and I'm already getting calls from contributors asking what the h.e.l.l's going on here. And the museum isn't doing well. My G.o.d, you almost lost the d.a.m.n thing. No. I'm sorry. I'll give you a good severance package, but I want you out."

Vanessa Van Ross turned and left. Jake reentered before she was completely out of Andie's office. Diane stood behind her desk, watching some empty s.p.a.ce. "I don't understand this," she muttered. "Look, Jake, I can't talk with you now. You can just deal with Donald. I'm sorry."

"My business isn't with Donald, it's with you. I have my gun. Don't make me take it out. There's lots of people still here in the museum. I don't want to hurt anybody, I just want those bones."

Diane looked startled. "What? Jake, are you crazy? What's the matter with you?"

"Don't play this stupid. I really don't want you to get hurt. That's the G.o.d's honest truth. This can be played out easy or hard. You're one tough woman, I'll give you that. You don't need to be tough now. All your proof is in the bones, and I want them. Now get up and let's go up to the vault where you keep them."

"They're gone. I sent them . . ."

"No, you didn't. The sheriff told me. That was a good little ruse, I'll hand it to you. Now get up and let's go. When I'm gone, you can do all the talking you want, but I have to tell you, n.o.body in this county's going to believe you or even listen to you, and it will be your word against mine. The mayor and the whole police department will back me up."

Diane rose. As she walked past Jake he grabbed her upper arm. "Don't do anything fancy," he said. "Let's just go to the elevator and go upstairs. We'll cross the mammoth room and use the center elevators. That way we can avoid getting into a conversation with Chanell."

They crossed through the exhibit rooms to the center elevators and went up to the second floor.

"There will probably be someone in the lab," said Diane.

"There's not. I checked before I came down to your office. Let's go."

Diane led him to the lab and into the vault.

"Jake, don't do this."

"I just want to save my kid. You understand that."

Diane got the box and set it on the table. "I understand wanting to save your kid, but, my G.o.d, Jake, look at what he's done. You knew George and his family. Frank is one of your best friends."

A wave of pain spread across his face. "Open it up," he said. She began tearing the tape from the box. "Dylan panicked and let things get out of control. I know he did some terrible things, but I'm setting them back to zero. He can start with a clean slate. Without these bones, there's nothing to connect him to any of the deaths. You're the only one who will know."

"If you kill me, my death will be investigated."

"I'm not going to kill you. I said a clean slate. We can handle accusations. That's the great thing about this country and its legal system. You need some kind of proof, and you have nothing but these bones. You don't even know who they belong to and you are not likely to find out. There'll be just this tale you tell people, and right now you're lacking in credibility. I have to tell you, the mayor hates your guts, so does the chief of detectives, and the sheriff thinks you're nuts. Janice Warrick's ready to arrest you for messing in her case. Your best bet is to move on."

"There's Frank."

"Frank only knows what you've told him."

He reached in the box and unwrapped a couple of bones from the soft cotton material. Diane glanced at the door.

"Don't try anything. You're home free if you just play it safe."

He took out a sack and looked in it. "Those are the bones of the hand," said Diane. "They're packed separately, left and right."

"All nice and organized."

"This person has family somewhere who want to know where he is."

"I'm sure he does, and that weighs on me, like all of this. But they will just have to go on wondering. Taking Dylan down's not going to bring this boy back."

"Why did he kill this young man?"

"He didn't mean to-he panicked. You don't need to know. The less you know, the better. Dylan's got a bright future ahead of him. I'm giving him a chance to start over clean. Now you're going to see me out the door."

"It sounds like Dylan panics a lot. Look, Jake. I examined the crime scene. Will you let me tell you what I found?"

"I don't see any use in that."

"He was in a frenzy when he killed them."

"Just don't say anything else."

"I think he has a mean streak that's going to get worse, especially since he's hooked up with someone with her own mean streak."

"What are you talking about?"

"His girlfriend."

"Alix? She's a nice girl."

"Is she? I have it on more than one authority she has a mean temper, just like Dylan."

"Dylan doesn't have a temper. Not like you're talking about. He gets scared sometimes. If George hadn't found the bone, none of this would have happened. I'm not blaming George. It was just bad luck. Dylan was protecting himself."

"Have you really talked yourself into believing this? Are you listening to what you're saying?"

"Let's get going."

"Just listen to me, Jake. Dylan is going to continue making mistakes. There was no reason to kill the Boones. Let me show you something. Dammit, set the box down. It won't hurt to listen."

He set the box on the table and Diane took out the scapula and showed it to him. "This entire area is crushed, including the head of the humerus and the adjoining ribs. It's my opinion that an individual couldn't have caused that kind of damage. See this straight line in the damaged area here? I think the disc brake of a jacked-up car fell on him. It looks like an accident. Why in the h.e.l.l did Dylan dump the body and kill the entire Boone family? He needs professional help, not a clean slate to start over."

"Don't tell her, Dad."