DF08 - The Night Killer (25 page)

She was wearing one of the museum’s sparkly T-shirts—a pink one with shells on it—and black jeans. She had changed clothes. Diane wondered if she felt her new look had been foolish.

“I waited until he left,” she said.

Obviously she meant Liam. Diane led her through the door to her private lounge, sat her on the couch, and gave her a soda from her refrigerator.

“You doing okay?” Diane asked, sitting down beside her.

“No,” Andie said. “I feel like such an idiot.”

“Don’t,” said Diane. “You weren’t the one who behaved foolishly.”

“I feel foolish,” she said.

“He thinks you’re very clever. He said you outed him,” said Diane.

“Like it was hard. He asked a lot of questions about you and about the new archaeology exhibit. That wouldn’t have been as strange if there wasn’t all this terrible stuff happening around those Indian arrowheads.”

“He said he thought he was being cunning about the whole thing,” Diane said.

“You know, I hate it that he’s not interested in the museum. I was so happy that I had found someone so drop-dead gorgeous who shared my interests. I hate being used. I hate everything about this.”

Andie started to cry and leaned against Diane. Diane put an arm around her and let the tears flow. She was about to tear up herself. After a few minutes Andie straightened up and pulled a Kleenex out of the box on the coffee table and blew her nose.

“I’ve never felt like this,” Andie said, and looked over at Diane. “The worst thing is, I’m not sure I could say no if he wants to come back. I’ve never wanted to be a woman like that. One who lets a man walk all over her. Am I terrible?”

“No. I think all this is still fresh and you are very disappointed. I know he is sorry he hurt you.”

“Really? What did he say?” Andie put her face in her hands. “Never mind,” she mumbled. “Just listen to me. 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 about to go back inside when Frank drove up and parked. He got out, walked over to her, and kissed her cheek.

“Was that Andie I saw leaving?” he asked. “How is she doing?”

Diane nodded. “Very hurt. But I think she’ll be fine.”

“You’re very sparkly tonight,” said Frank, looking at Diane’s ice blue silk blouse, rubbing a hand on her shoulder.

Diane laughed. “Andie’s T-shirt. It turns out the new museum T-shirts shed just a little of their glitter. Everyone’s starting to look like they got in a fight with Tinker Bell.”

“It looks lovely on you,” he said.

Diane linked her arm in his and they walked back into the building.

“I spoke with Reverend Springhaven,” said Frank. “He got us an invitation to visit Rendell First Baptist Church this Sunday. You still determined to go?”

“Yes,” Diane said. “I particularly want to speak with the Watson family members. Every time I find a motive that makes some sense for the Barre murders, there are also the Watson murders to consider, and it never works with them.”

The museum restaurant was a maze of brick archways that looked as if they belonged in a medieval library. The connecting archways created five chamberlike spaces, each containing five tables made from rough- hewn wood. The restaurant also had booths in arched brick alcoves lining the walls.

There was the subtle sound of low murmurs of patrons talking with one another in the flicker of candlelight.

Diane and Frank made their way to the back of the restaurant to where David and the others had put a couple of the tables together. In addition to David, Jin was there, as were Neva and Mike. Diane and Frank sat down in front of the iced tea David had already ordered for them.

“Sorry I’m so late,” said Diane.

“How’s Andie?” asked Neva. “She was so sad when she was with us.”

“Still sad. She really fell for Liam,” said Diane.

“So, Diane, David just updated us on the latest big event in your life while we were gone,” said Mike. “It left us speechless.”

The waitress came and they gave their orders. As they waited for their food, Neva, Mike, and Jin asked Diane several questions about the events surrounding the Barre and Watson murders and about Slick and Tammy. It turned out to be a good review for her of what had happened and what she knew, but Diane wasn’t sure she had any clearer understanding of it all. She was still stumped. She almost had too much information, but not enough of the right information.
Maybe Sunday
, she thought.

“Have you tested the paint transfer from my SUV?” Diane asked David.

“It’s from a 1997 red Chevy Blazer,” he said. “I’ve been in touch with Garnett. They haven’t found anything that fits the description. He’s in contact with the surrounding counties and said he’d call if they find anything. He has an APB out, but you know how that is. We’ve gone over your vehicle. Nothing new. I’m sorry I don’t have any information for you.”

“I didn’t really expect anything. It wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out to be stolen,” said Diane.

“Where do you want your SUV to go now?” asked David.

“Derk’s Garage,” said Diane. “I’m going to be paying for it myself. My insurance is already out of sight.”

“What happened with your SUV?” asked Neva.

Diane told them about the maniac who had played chicken with her.

“Oh my goodness!” said Neva. “Is it about the murders, you think?”

“I don’t know,” said Diane. “I don’t know much of anything.”

Diane was starting to get depressed. She wished Andie had come to dinner with them. She hated thinking of her being alone. But, then again, maybe some alone time was what she needed. Diane turned to David.

“I did get hold of Jonas, and he remembered what was in the cigar box I told you about from the Barres’ house.”

“The box you believe was taken by the killer,” said David.

“Yes. Jonas remembered the contents better than their kids did,” Diane said. She described the objects for David. “I think it must have been just a souvenir for the killer,” she said. “I can’t think of anything in it that would be worth stealing.”

“Jonas described one of the marbles as looking like confetti?” said David.

“Yes,” said Diane.

“Oh God. I’ll bet you have a marble database, don’t you?” said Neva.

“Doesn’t he have a database on everything?” said Jin.

“Yes,” said David, “I do have a database on marbles. I happen to have collected marbles at one time in my life, and I maintain an interest. And please, I’ve heard every joke, multiple times.”

David turned to Diane. “From the description, it may be a confetti mica marble. If it’s what I’m thinking of, it could be about a hundred and fifty years old.”

“Wow,” said Jin. “How much would it be worth?”

“Somewhere between five and ten thousand dollars,” David said.

“Do you think that’s what the killer was after?” asked Mike. His frown showed skepticism. The ice clinked in his glass as he finished his iced tea and set the glass down on the table.

“Marbles?” said Neva. “That’s awful. Oh please, don’t let me ever be murdered for my marbles.”

“That would mean that whoever killed them knew what was in the box and the value of it,” said Jin. “Maybe the Barres didn’t even know they had something valuable.”

“And there’re the Watsons,” said David. “Did they have something valuable in their home that was spotted by the killer? We’re still missing something—a lot of somethings.”

That was the whole problem, thought Diane. She simply couldn’t find a motive that fit all the victims. The only one that made sense for both the Barres and the Watsons was their joint desire for land development, allowing for more progress in the county. That seemed a very weak motive—but people had been murdered for lesser reasons.

The waitress came with their meals and they settled into discussing Neva and Mike’s recent trip to Africa. It left Diane anxious to see all the photographs they took. It also left her wanting to drop the entire murder case. She would have, if she thought the authorities in Rendell County were up to the task.

 

Diane was awakened by Frank shaking her shoulder. She looked at the clock. It was early and he was already dressed.

“You have to go to work already?” she mumbled.

“Ben called,” he said.

“I didn’t hear the phone.” She managed to get to a sitting position.

Frank sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed her hair out of her eyes.

“He called my cell,” he said. “They picked up Tammy and Slick just outside Rosewood. The GBI is having Ben and me do the interview here in Rosewood. Want to watch?”

Diane jumped out of bed. “Yes. Definitely.” Finally, the promise of some closure.

 

Diane had never seen Frank interview a suspect. This was going to be interesting on many counts. She stood in the observation room between GBI agent Gil Mathews and Chief Garnett. Gil Mathews was a friend of Frank’s. Diane had heard Frank speak of him many times. Gil was a tall, thin man with silver hair and nice clothes. Chief Garnett, a snappy dresser himself, was watching because he was interested in any case that Diane was involved in.

They had Slick in a separate room away from Tammy. Ben said he and Frank liked to keep the weaker witness waiting. He said by the time you got around to interviewing them, they often were more than willing to talk.

In the interview room Tammy Taylor was sitting on a chair at a metal table with her arms folded across her chest.

“You got that skinny bitch watching?” She shot a finger at the two-way mirror.