Dead Hunt by Beverly Connor Read Free Book Online

greeting to Diane. He looked more like a history professor than an FBI profiler in his vest and suit. He started to speak but Andie got there first.
‘‘Dr. Fallon,’’ said Andie and paused as she saw the rolled-up newspaper in Diane’s hand. ‘‘You’ve seen the article.’’
Diane nodded.
‘‘Diane. I was hoping you could spare me a few minutes,’’ said Kingsley quickly.
‘‘I’m sorry, Ross. I have a board meeting in a few minutes. It will have to wait until after that.’’ Diane turned to Mike. ‘‘If you have time, will you show Agent Kingsley around the museum?’’
‘‘Sure...’’ began Mike.
The telephone rang. Diane imagined that all Andie had been able to do all day was answer the telephone.
‘‘Excuse me, Dr. Fallon,’’ said Andie. ‘‘It’s the DA.
    insists on speaking He’s called several times. He
    with you.’’
‘‘He insists? Tell him unless
his arm out of its socket and beat him with the bloody
end of it, he’ll wait until I have time to call him.’’ ‘‘Ooookay,’’ said Andie. She took the DA off hold.
‘‘Sir, Dr. Fallon can’t be disturbed. She’ll call you just
as soon as she has a chance.’’ Andie doodled with her
pen as she listened. Her springy auburn hair bounced
as she nodded into the phone. ‘‘I know, sir, but she is
in a board meeting. It’s likely to last a while, but she
will return your call.’’
There was another pause and Diane could hear the
DA’s voice but not his words. Just as well, she thought. ‘‘No, I’m sorry. I can’t pass a note to her. That
would disturb the meeting and I can’t do that. She
will call. I prom— He hung up on me,’’ she said, holding the receiver out for all to see.
‘‘Andie, ask Kendel to come to my office,’’ said
Diane.
‘‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you,’’ said
Kingsley. ‘‘I’ll be glad to wait until after your meeting.’’ He grinned at her, rubbing his shoulder. ‘‘But
can you give me a hint about what Clymene wanted?’’ Diane had started into her office, but she turned to he wants me to jerk him. ‘‘Clymene is afraid that one of her guards has married someone like herself.’’ Diane turned to her
office without looking back.
‘‘Okay, now, you can’t drop a bomb like that and
leave,’’ he shouted after her.
Diane was already in her office and closing her
door. She turned off the water fountain on her desk.
Normally she liked the sound of the water running
over the stones, but today it was annoying. She should
have gotten a jump start on this situation when she
read the first article. But she had been knee-deep in
other things and Kendel had assured her there was
nothing to it.
After a moment Kendel opened the rear door to
Diane’s office and quietly slipped in. She was dressed
in a navy pinstriped suit and a pink shirt. Her brown
hair, usually in some kind of twist, was down, just
touching her shoulders. Her eyes were red and she
looked tired. Her usual countenance, the tough-asbrass assistant director, was absent. Kendel was
scared. Diane motioned for her to sit down. ‘‘Diane, I know I told you the other day that this
was nothing—’’
The phone rang and Diane picked it up. ‘‘I’m sorry to disturb you,’’ said Andie. ‘‘It’s the
Journal-Constitution . Do you want to speak with
them?’’
‘‘Thank you, Andie. Put them through.’’
She waited on the phone, frowning. This was just
the beginning. Kendel sat staring at the photograph of
Diane hanging suspended from a rope inside a dark
cavern. Diane wondered if that was how Kendel felt,
like someone dangling at the end of a rope. ‘‘Diane Fallon?’’ said the voice on the other end of the phone. ‘‘I’m Shell Sidney from the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution .’’
Diane wondered if the reporter’s name was really
Sidney Shell and she had reversed it in order to have
more gravitas.
‘‘I’ve been trying to reach you in regard to the stolen