One Grave Less by Beverly Connor Read Free Book Online Page A

out the rescue—if that’s what it was—quickly, with a fair amount of precision. They sound like professionals, yet they didn’t know the special exhibit didn’t have anything in it.” Kenneth paused and took a sip of the orange juice he had in front of him. “Two things come to mind. Have they hacked into our computer system to discover schedules? And could they have been after something other than the Mayan artifacts, and simply used the special exhibit room as some kind of staging area because they thought it would be empty at night?”
    “I’ve asked the curators to inventory their items,” said Diane.
    Kenneth nodded. “What is the most valuable thing we have?”
    “Other than the dinosaur bones—both real and casts, which would be a clumsy steal—the gemstones,” said Diane. “Mike secures the most valuable of those in a vault. During exhibition hours he has them displayed in such a manner that they can be removed easily for safekeeping in the evening. However, we have other rare items that might be attractive to a collector.”
    “Was there a falling out among thieves?” asked Anne. “I’m a little unclear about the two wounded people.”
    “I don’t have an answer for that. Neither the police nor I have much information yet. All of us are working on it.”
    “Well, if someone has hacked into the system, there is certainly something we can do about that,” said Barclay. “Don’t you have adequate firewalls or whatever you call the damn things?”
    “We do,” answered Kenneth. “But a determined, talented hacker can get into anything, given enough time and resources.”
    Barclay nodded, looking a little pensive. “Didn’t we have some little hacker get into the system a while back? The one that apparently got into every system in town—except my bank, of course. Might we talk to that little beggar?”
    Diane stared at Barclay for a long moment, long enough for him to actually blush and look away. Diane knew all the banks that were hacked, and Barclay’s bank was certainly among them.
    “I think he works for the FBI now,” said Kenneth.
    “Seriously?” said Barclay.
    “Or the CIA. One of the two. He was quite talented,” said Kenneth.
    “That’s all the information I have,” said Diane quickly. “I’ll call another meeting when we know more.”
    She was eager to get back to the crime lab and see what her team had come up with. She started to adjourn when Barclay looked up at her.
    “I have one more item I want to talk about,” he said.
    He took out an envelope and tossed it in front of him.
    “I got this invitation in the mail and I was surprised that you are using the museum for your own wedding. I think that is an inappropriate use of your authority. Are you using museum staff as well? Will we be reimbursed?”
    Diane said nothing, merely raised an eyebrow.
    Barclay smiled grimly at her.
    “Thomas,” said Vanessa.
    Her tone was sharp and all of them gave her their attention, as if she had addressed each of them.
    “Having Diane’s wedding in the museum was my idea. She wanted to elope, but I wanted her to have a ceremony here, in the museum. I, with Laura, and Diane’s assistant, Andie, are planning the wedding. Diane hasn’t even seen the invitations.”
    Vanessa had caught Barclay by surprise. He stuttered a moment before he found his voice.
    “I didn’t realize,” he said. “If you approve, then, of course . . .”
    “Is there anything else?” said Diane. “No? Then we are adjourned. Good to have seen all of you.” Now go away , she thought.
    They filed out. Barclay was out the door first, muttering that he had to get back to the bank.
    “Do you have time for lunch?” said Laura when she reached Diane. Vanessa was with her.
    “I can make time,” she said. “But I need to go to the crime lab first.”
    “That will be fine,” said Vanessa. “There are some things I want to look at.” She smiled and patted Diane’s arm as they left.
    As Diane turned