probably remember the box. Ol’ Roy liked to talk about the stuff he collected. His other kids, Christine and Spence, are coming in today or tomorrow. Christine lives in Virginia, I think, and Spence . . . somewhere in Tennessee.”
“I’d like to speak with them,” said Diane.
Travis nodded. “You thinking this box was a trophy?” he asked. “I mean, do you think this is one of them serial killers you hear about?”
“I don’t know,” said Diane. “Maybe.”
“I was gonna ask about Roy’s stuff—you know, the diaries. I was wondering if you read anything in them that might help. But now that the Watsons have been murdered, well, ain’t no use, it seems like.”
“Never close off an avenue of investigation until it has been exhausted. Looking at the diary is not a bad idea. I’ve got a call in to Jonas Briggs to tell him about the Barres. He’s away right now on a dig and can’t be reached easily. He has the diary with him.”
“Don’t make much difference now, I guess. What could the Watsons have to do with it?” said Travis.
“Did the Watsons and the Barres know each other?” asked Diane.
“Sure. Not many strangers in our county. They went to the same church—First Baptist. So they were of the same spiritual attitude as the Barres. They didn’t get along with Daddy and the rest of the deacons in our church. Truthfully, I’d like to go to their church, but Daddy would be upset, and we’ve just started getting along since he gave me the job as deputy—I was a bit of a handful growing up. Our deacons think the First Baptists are leaning toward the side of sin just a little too much.”
Diane tried to call up in her mind what the First Baptists could be doing to earn such a description, but couldn’t imagine it.
As if he understood what she might be thinking, Travis continued explaining the nuances of religious point of view in his county.
“They want a little more progress in the county—and they allow dancing.” He laughed. “I know how backward we must sound to you guys down here.”
“Could anyone in your church or another church be so worried about people from First Baptist that they would start killing them?” asked Diane.
Travis looked at her, startled. “I hadn’t thought of that, but I can’t imagine it. That’d be cold.” He shook himself, as if trying to get rid of the thought. “I’ll tell you this: It’s an idea Daddy won’t entertain at all, and I don’t know how I’d ask around.”
“Would your dad be willing to ask the GBI or the FBI in, especially if there are any more killings?” asked Diane.
“You’re joking, right?” he said. “No.”
“Then you are going to have to figure out a way to ask the tough questions,” said Diane.
Izzy appeared with a suitcase and handed it to Travis. “One crime scene kit to go. If you like, I’ll go over everything with you,” he said.
“That’d be real nice of you,” Travis said.
“I’ll be getting back to the museum,” said Diane. “Call if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks. I really do appreciate the help here. I’d like to know what you think of the Watson crime scene,” Travis said.
“Was their house broken into?” asked Diane.
“Don’t believe so,” said Travis. “I didn’t look at the whole thing. Daddy went through it. I’ll find out from him. I was kind of hoping it was a stranger—like that guy you met in the woods. I sent Jason over to the rangers’ station to ask about campers. I’d like it to be somebody like him. It’d be real bad if it’s somebody from Rendell County. Real bad.”
Diane didn’t like the direction of his thinking. However much Travis tried to be different from his father, he was thinking like him now. He was in danger of pinning it on a stranger. Maybe not on purpose, but she doubted that his dad did it on purpose, either. She needed to solve this before some miscarriage of justice was meted out by the Conrads.
“If you can keep me informed,” she told Travis, “I’ll give you all the analysis we have at our disposal.”
“That’d be just real nice,” he said. “They’d all be so surprised if I solved this.”
Chapter 21
Andie was late getting back from lunch. Diane didn’t mind. A love story was far better to have close by than the murders that occupied most of her thoughts right now. In Andie’s absence Diane had routed the phones to one