“I think it was Shakespeare,” said David. “And it was lawyers.”
“Yeah, well, I guess I’ll take lawyers over politicians,” said Jin.
“How about my car?” asked Diane. “Have you had a chance to process it?”
“All done and locked in the vault,” said Neva. “When he goes to trial, all the information will be there. What do you want done with your car?”
“I suppose I’ll trade it again. I tell you, the guys at the Ford place must be wondering what kind of life I lead.”
“Speaking of that,” said David. “Did something happen last night? I’ve heard the security guards talking about guys with baseball bats lurking in the parking lot, and something about you and another person. What was that about?”
Diane explained briefly about the incident in the parking lot.
“So,” said Jin, “you can tell the car dealer that this was a separate incident from the one that damaged your car.”
“I do seem to attract maniacs,” said Diane.
“Are you all right? You said the police came in time?”
“Yes. It ended well and I hear the police caught both guys. I’m just hoping that it’s not something directed at the museum.”
“I see,” said David. “Just you.”
“What about the other person?” said Jin. “Could it have been about her?”
“I don’t think so. Maybe the police will have some news. I’ll call them a little later.”
The private crime lab elevator doors opened and Chief Garnett walked out. They watched him walk down the narrow hall past the glassed-in work areas of the crime lab to reach them on the other side. He sat down at the table, nodding at Diane’s staff.
“What brings you here?” asked Diane. She got up, poured a cup of coffee, and brought it to the table for Garnett. She passed the cup of black coffee over to him.
Garnett’s dark hair looked like it had more gray in it. His eyes had weary lines at the corners that she hadn’t noticed before. But maybe it was her imagination.
“Several things.” He picked up the coffee and took a sip. “Hot. That’s nice. It’s cold outside. First, I wanted to find out how the explosion analysis is going.”
“You’re joking, right?” said Diane. “You know we don’t have the evidence.”
“I mean the remains. That’s really the most important. That’s what everyone is interested in.”
“As the MEs have probably told you, all the intact bodies have been identified. On some of the remains we are waiting on the DNA. Some samples have been sent to the GBI lab. Jin is extracting samples from the last remains to be found. I haven’t finished analyzing all the bone fragments, but I’m working on it. I expect the DNA will be more important to the identification than my analysis.” Diane paused. “You know, don’t you, that much of the physical evidence is compromised? Any good defense attorney will ream whatever unlucky person gets on the stand to discuss the evidence. I can tell you this, it won’t be any of my people.”
“I agree. But McNair’s people are good. . . .”
“Garnett,” said Diane, “that doesn’t matter. Do you want a list of all the bags he broke the seal on and pawed through?”
Garnett sighed. “I know. The DA’s very upset. We are going to have to somehow work around what McNair did. I don’t have to tell you we don’t need to make it public knowledge.”
“No,” said Diane, “you don’t. But a lot of people know about it. Are you sure some of his own people won’t make it public? Are all of them satisfied with his stewardship of his position?”
“Look, I know this is a mess and I know the commissioner behaved like a . . .”
Garnett looked over at him and grimaced. “I suppose that’s several ways to put it.” He took another sip of coffee. “However, I also had another reason for coming over. We managed to get those two guys with the baseball bats to talk.”
Chapter 20
“You know who they are?” asked Diane. “Who? What was it about? Not the museum, I hope.”
“No. It was about you.”
“Me?” Diane received that news with mixed relief. She certainly didn’t want thugs targeting patrons of the museum, but neither did she like being a target herself. “Why?” she asked.
“The two work for the Stanton Construction Company. Patrice Stanton hired them.”
“The little carjacker’s mother?” said Jin. “She hired hit men? God, what a family.”