Neva was another member of Diane’s forensic team. She was sent to Diane from the Rosewood Police Department. A reluctant assignment for the young policewoman at first, but one Neva had grown into. When Diane discovered that Neva possessed considerable artistic skills, Diane introduced her to forensic art and taught her how to reconstruct a face from a skull.
Mike Seger was the curator of the geology collection and had built one of the best rock and mineral reference collections in the country. Students from several large university geology departments in the region had begun using the museum’s collection for research since he took over as curator. Mike also worked for a company that searched for and collected extremophiles, organisms that lived in the harshest environs on the planet. Mike and Neva were two of Diane’s caving partners and she enjoyed seeing them become a couple.
Diane rushed around her desk and hugged the two of them.
“I have missed you both,” she said.
They smiled broadly, returning the embrace.
“You look great,” said Diane, looking at each of them in turn. “Really great.”
From the relaxed look on their faces, they appeared well rested. Diane had feared they would be exhausted after such a busy trip. They actually looked energized by it.
Neva was wearing her brown hair a few inches past her shoulders with bangs across her forehead. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and didn’t need any with her tan face, large, dark eyes, and full lips. Mike looked as rugged as ever, with a deep tan and his well-toned muscles. The two of them grinned at Diane and gripped the package between them.
“What do you have here?” asked Diane.
“A gift,” said Neva, beaming. “I think you’ll like it. I hope you like it.”
“Well, let’s see what it is.” Diane gently began tearing the brown wrapping off the package. “This is gorgeous,” she said when the gift was exposed.
“I thought the lone wolf in your forensic office could use some company,” said Neva. “We took a lot of photographs. I bought this panoramic camera for the trip.” She gestured with her arms wide. “And you won’t believe the wonderful pictures we got.”
The package was a huge, wide, framed photograph of an expanse of savanna with brown grass, umbrella trees, and an orange sunset. Looking closer, Diane saw a family of lions in the grass.
“I love this,” said Diane, not taking her eyes off the photograph. “It’s beautiful. It’s enthralling.”
“I thought I would do a painting of one of the photos we took, to hang somewhere in the museum,” said Neva.
“I imagine you have lots that would be terrific in the mammal room,” said Diane, looking up at her. “When did you get back?”
“Three days ago in the United States. We made a few stops before coming home. Kendel’s still in New York. She’s going to wait for our cargo and arrange for shipment here, then visit some friends while she’s in New York,” said Neva. “Speaking of friends, I met Andie’s new friend. Quite a hunk. Have you met him?”
“Andie hasn’t introduced him yet,” said Diane, looking at the photograph, touching the nonglare glass with her fingertips, tracing the lions.
“But have you met him?” asked Neva.
Diane looked over at her. She stood there, eyes slightly narrowed, studying Diane. There was a time when only Frank and David noticed when she didn’t answer the exact question that was put to her. Now most of her crew could. Neva and Mike waited for an answer with bemused expressions.
“It’s a long story,” said Diane.
“I’m anxious to hear it,” said Neva. “Is Andie serious?”
“She just met him a couple of days ago,” said Diane. “But she’s grown quite fond of him in that time. Apparently lots of chemistry.”
“And you haven’t met him yet?” pushed Neva.
“Not yet. He’s been busy,” said Diane. She believed he had been avoiding her. Not surprising.
“You know, I feel a mystery here,” said Neva.
“You have no idea,” said Diane. Her cell phone saved her from answering further.
“Fallon,” she said.
“Diane, it’s David. I have some preliminary information for you.”
“That was quick.” She looked at the clock on the wall.
“Like I said-preliminary. I just thought you’d like to know what I’ve found so far,” he said.
“Yes, shoot,” she said. She walked around her desk and sat down with pen in hand. She pointed at the chairs. “Have a seat,” she said to Neva and Mike.
“You have visitors?” said David.
“Mike and Neva are back,” she said.
“Really?” David’s voice brightened. “Tell Neva to get her little butt over here and get to work. We need her.”
Diane relayed the message.
“Tell David I still have a few days left on my vacation,” she said, loud enough for David to hear.
“Yeah, right,” said David. “At least ask her and Mike to join us for dinner.”
Diane did, and the two of them accepted.
“Now, what do you have?” asked Diane.
“His name is William Steven Dugal,” said David. “Isn’t that the guy Andie is dating?” he asked. “You aren’t checking up on him, are you?”
“Yes. And I have good reason,” she said.
“Still, this can get a little dicey. I mean, if it were me. .” he said.
“What else do you have, or are you going to plead this as an ethics violation?” said Diane.
“No, I’m just trying to make sure I know what’s going on. He’s retired navy. I don’t have details yet. However, what flagged his prints was his license. He’s a private detective. Which, I’ll admit, may make your snooping justified,” he said.
Diane went still for a moment. Private detective. What the hell?
“Are you still there?” asked David.
“I recognized his voice earlier today,” said Diane.
“Recognized? You’ve heard him speak before? Where?” asked David.
“In the woods,” said Diane.
She heard David’s surprise. “Damn. He’s the guy you met in the woods? The one who gave you the knife and rain gear? The one you went out of your way to keep Sheriff Conrad from being tempted to railroad?”
“Yes,” said Diane, “the same.”
“You’re sure?” he said.
“I recognized the voice, but if you are asking if I could be mistaken. . of course, there is always a chance. But he has a very distinctive voice,” said Diane.
“I see why you want to investigate him.” David was silent a moment. “And that certainly makes the detective thing interesting, not to mention his interest in Andie.” He sighed. “Well, this could be messy. How are you going to handle it?”
“I don’t know,” said Diane. “Is there a firm involved, or is it self-employment?”
Diane was making an effort to disguise the topic of her conversation as much as possible from Mike and Neva. She didn’t want Andie’s business to become public knowledge, even if the public in question were good friends.
“He has a partner. Apparently they own the agency together. The partner’s name is Louis Ruben. The name of the agency is Peachtree Investigative Services,” said David.
“So he’s in Atlanta,” said Diane.
“Looks like it,” said David.
“Anything else?” asked Diane.
“The Web site says he was a captain when he retired,” said David.
“Is that good?” said Diane. “I know that’s ignorant, but I have no idea how that system works.”
“Yes, I think that’s very good,” said David.
“You think it’s true?” asked Diane.
“I don’t think he could get away with having that on his Web site if it weren’t,” said David.
“Thanks,” said Diane.
“This is strange,” said David.
“I know,” agreed Diane.
“What was he doing in the woods? Not photographing owls, I’ll bet,” David said.
“Probably not,” said Diane.
Diane and David hung up and she turned her attention to Neva and Mike, who looked at her with interest. She smiled at them.
“We’re going to meet in the restaurant about sevenish,” said Diane.
“It’ll be good to see everyone again,” said Neva. “I feel like I’ve been gone a year.”
Diane started to respond, but was interrupted when Andie walked through the doorway-followed by Liam Dugal himself.