Part 5 (1/2)
”Oh, I know him . . . but the girl who called said you worked at the museum . . .” she repeated.
”I'm also director of the crime lab,” said Diane.
”Oh, I think I knew something about that. What can I do for you?”
”I was wondering if we could meet and talk about one of the prisoners.”
”Well, I'm kind of in the middle of my honeymoon...” She giggled again. It was a girlish sound that made Diane sense her happiness even over the phone.
”I did hear that you had just gotten married. Congratulations,” said Diane, testing the waters. ”How do you like married life so far?” Diane hoped she sounded sufficiently friendly and congratulatory.
Diane watched the board members as she spoke. Madge looked like she would like to curl into fetal position. Laura was smiling, trying to keep the conversation light, Diane guessed-Laura the peacemaker. Barclay cleaned his gla.s.ses again. Probably wondering how to recover his alpha status.
”I love it, just love it. Eric, my husband, has a daughter, Julie-just a living doll. I became a wife and a mother. I'm so lucky. I just have to pinch myself every day.”
”So you're on your honeymoon?” said Diane.
Grace told her that she and Eric had just returned from Gatlinburg, where they had a shortened honeymoon because they didn't want to be away from Eric's daughter, Julie, for long. ”We are leaving in a few days on a sort of family vacation,” she said.
”Where are you planning on going?” asked Diane.
Grace laughed again. ”Can you believe we haven't decided yet? Eric wants to take a trip across the country and visit the national parks-he's always wanted to see the Grand Canyon. I think that might be a little tiring for Julie. I'd love to take her to Disney World. We've also talked about a cruise.”
Grace Noel Tully sounded happy and Diane didn't want to ruin it. Truthfully, she only partly believed Clymene; on the other hand, the thought of the Grand Canyon and an ocean cruise gave her pause. She glanced at her board again and made up her mind.
”Agent Kingsley would like to speak with you before you leave again,” said Diane. It was Kingsley, after all, who had sent her to see Clymene. He could take care of the consequences. Besides, she didn't feel competent to a.s.sess whether or not Grace Tully had married a serial killer. That was Kingsley's expertise.
”I'm not sure....Eric's been after me to quit and be a stay-at-home mom and I'll admit, it appeals to me. . . .”
”Are you familiar with Clymene O'Riley?” asked Diane.
”Oh, Lord, yes. She's one of the more interesting inmates. Is this about her?” asked Grace.
”Yes,” said Diane-only half lying, she told herself. ”Kingsley is profiling her and it would help the FBI a great deal if you would speak with him. Briefly,” she added.
”Well . . .”
”And I would be happy to throw in free tickets to the museum for you and your family,” said Diane.
”Oh, that would be nice. Julie would love that. . . . Well, you could give me your number and I'll see if I can fit it in,” said Grace. ”I would prefer not to tell Eric. He's very insistent on wanting to take care of me.”
Diane gave Grace her cell phone number and told her to call her anytime. She wanted to give her a word of caution but was afraid she would scare her into not seeing Kingsley.
Diane placed the phone on the hook and looked out at the board members before she made a move toward the door. Barclay was smiling. Even Madge was sitting straighter. She walked out the door and took her place at the head of the table. Maybe there was a way to undo some of the cheer that Laura was spreading around.
Barclay and Madge weren't jovial, but they were in better spirits than when Diane had left the table. Diane didn't believe, as Laura did, that it was always a good thing for people to leave on a positive note. Diane didn't believe that Madge or Barclay needed to be feeling good about themselves until some of the damage to Kendel and the museum was undone. She sucked in a breath of air, frustrated at being unable to make them understand the harm done to Kendel. She was also left with a nagging fear for Grace Tully.
”Tell me,” Laura said before Diane had a chance to speak, ”why is everyone wearing those Richard the Third T-s.h.i.+rts? Are you planning a Richard the Third exhibit?”
”One is in the works for next year,” said Diane. ”The planners had Richard the Third T-s.h.i.+rts made for the opening. They're wearing them now to support Kendel,” said Diane.
The identical blank stares that Diane saw in the faces around the table would have been humorous in another situation.
Kenneth gave her a know, Diane, I'm just a going to have to explain that.”
”I'm ashamed to say the subtlety is lost on me too,” said Martin Thormond, the history professor.
”Isn't he the one who killed his nephews?” said Laura. ”How does that support Kendel?”
”I don't understand either,” said Harvey Phelps, a slight laugh barely escaping his throat. ”My wife and I saw Richard the Third Richard the Third in Atlanta last year at the Fox. I can't really see how that's going to give her any moral support whatsoever-if that's the aim.” in Atlanta last year at the Fox. I can't really see how that's going to give her any moral support whatsoever-if that's the aim.”
Diane hesitated a moment. She stood and gathered the magazines and the newspaper from the table, grateful for the nice opening that Laura gave her for another attempt to make them understand. self-deprecating grin. ”You computer salesman. You're ”You have to keep in mind that Shakespeare's play was fiction based on an unclear history. There's historical evidence to support Richard's innocence. Many believe it was Henry Tudor, Richard's conqueror, who had the princes killed. Richard wasn't blamed for it until about a hundred years after his death.”
”I can see where that's the ultimate cold case . . . but for supporting Dr. Williams?” began Kenneth. ”I mean, why a long-dead king? I don't get it.”
”Richard was loved by his subjects,” said Diane. ”His reign wasn't long, but in his short time he inst.i.tuted judicial and legal reforms that we still hold sacred today. He established bail for everyone, not just the wealthy. He outlawed seizure of property before an accused was convicted. He reformed the jury system so that a verdict could not be bought. And he told his judges to dispense justice equally to all cla.s.ses. Underlying all of his judicial reforms was the revolutionary concept of the presumption of innocence the presumption of innocence-a gift he was denied by history, but one the staff intends to give to Kendel.”
Diane paused a moment, gratified to see many of them frowning again. ”There are books in the library on his reign if you are interested. Now, I need to get back. Madge, you need to come with me. David will want to interview you.”
”Me? Why?” Madge scooted back in her chair as if afraid Diane was going to hit her.
”We need to find out who is behind this,” said Diane.
”But . . . I don't know. The reporter didn't tell me,” insisted Madge.
”There may be something in the way she asked the questions that could give us a clue. It won't take long and you need to help solve this.”
”But I really don't want to take the chance of running into Miss Williams,” said Madge.
”Really?” said Diane. ”I would have thought you would welcome the opportunity to apologize to Dr. Williams.”
Barclay cleared his throat. ”If there's any chance that Dr. Williams might take action,” he said to Madge, ”it might not be a good idea to apologize to her. It would be an admission.”
”Indeed,” said Diane, eying them both. ”Well, I'll leave that to you and your conscience. However, I do need you to speak with David, Madge.”
”I'll go with you,” said Vanessa. ”I certainly need to say something to Kendel.” She turned to Diane. Her lips curved up almost to a smile. ”I would say that I know how difficult this meeting was for you, but I don't think it was.”
Diane smiled back at her. ”All in a day's work.”
The board members began to drift out of the room. Diane made for the door, escaping with them. Vanessa walked ahead with Madge. Diane had the feeling that Madge would like to break loose at the first opportunity.
”You know,” said Laura when Madge and Vanessa were out of hearing, ”it's our fault. We don't take Madge seriously at all. It's no wonder she would confide in someone who said they valued her opinion.”
”She's an adult,” said Diane. ”And she is not stupid. I think none of her friends or relatives have ever held her accountable for anything.”
Laura looked at Diane. ”That's rather harsh. She may have lived a sheltered life, but-”