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was.
‘‘I’ve been at the police station, then the hospital ever since,’’ she said.
‘‘Oh, my God,’’ said Andie. ‘‘I was a little worried when I couldn’t get you on your cell.’’
‘‘Delamore stomped it into the pavement,’’ said Diane.
‘‘He tried to kill you?’’ said Mike. ‘‘He hit you?’’ Mike sat down on the stuffed chair next to the sofa. He reached over and touched her face with his finger tips, then let his hand drop.
‘‘I’m fine. I’ve looked worse after we’ve been cav ing,’’ she said.
‘‘No, you haven’t,’’ said Mike.
Thanks , she thought.
‘‘Can I do anything to help?’’ he asked.
‘‘You’ve helped immeasurably already. Thanks for insisting that I learn more about rock climbing. It saved my life,’’ she said.
His lips turned up into half a smile. ‘‘Every caver needs to learn rock climbing,’’ he said. ‘‘I guess so does every museum director–crime detector.’’
As Diane started to stand, Mike reached out and helped her up.
‘‘You think you need to rest up a bit?’’ he said. ‘‘Seriously. I’ve seen you look better.’’
‘‘I’ve got a lot to do,’’ she said. ‘‘I need to keep busy.’’ I just saw a man die, she thought. He may have been trying to kill her, but it was still disturbing to see someone die. Her heart ached with the thought of it. Focus , she thought. ‘‘Andie, would you mind going downtown and buying me another cell phone?’’
‘‘Sure,’’ said Andie. ‘‘Any particular kind?’’
‘‘Something useful,’’ she said.
‘‘Sure. I’ll do it right now.’’ Andie jumped up and grabbed her purse and coat from the closet. ‘‘You’ve had several reporters call about the wood-chipper murder. Was someone really murdered by being put in a wood chipper? That’s awful.’’
Diane was afraid of this.
‘‘No,’’ she said simply, not wanting to discuss a case, but wanting to dispel any rumors. ‘‘I imagine you’ll be getting more calls when the news outlets find out about Delamore. I’m not in for any reporters.’’ Diane wondered whether Harve Delamore had anything to do with the bones found in the field. She knew he didn’t like her, but why did he attack her now? Maybe he’d heard the news report.
Andie was about to leave when the door to her office opened and Jonas Briggs, the museum’s archae ologist, came in along with Henry Miller, the young boy who’d discovered the bones, and another young man.
‘‘Found these young men looking for you . . .’’ Jonas stopped. ‘‘What happened to you? You look like you lost a wrestling match with a grizzly.’’ His white tooth brush mustache bobbed up and down as he spoke. Jonas had snow-white hair and equally white bushy eyebrows over bright blue eyes. He looked like a kindly grandfather—or a wizard.
‘‘You’re half right. Just a little mishap on the way to work. Henry, how are you?’’ she said before Jonas could question her further.
‘‘I’m fine, Miss . . . I mean, Dr. Fallon,’’ he said. ‘‘This is my brother, Caleb.’’
‘‘I remember the sheriff mentioning Caleb.’’ She held out her hand and he shook it.
Henry and Caleb didn’t favor each other. Henry was going to be much bigger than his older brother.
Caleb nudged his brother and smiled warmly at him. ‘‘Go ahead,’’ he said.
Diane could see how fond Caleb was of his younger sibling. The thought of it made her smile.
‘‘So, what brings you here?’’ she asked.
Henry looked at his brother, who nodded at him.
‘‘When I was here yesterday,’’ he said, looking back at Diane, ‘‘I . . . well, I really like it here, and I was wondering if there are ever any jobs for someone my age. I’m in eighth grade.’’
‘‘So, that makes you, what, thirteen, fourteen?’’ asked Diane.
‘‘Yes, ma’am,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m fourteen—almost—in a week.’’
‘‘Well, we have a student after-school intern pro