The Hidden

“I don’t think we have enough information yet to say. But what’s going on is strange, to say the least. My gut tells me the Parkers were murdered because Larry was descended from Nathan Kendall. I think the killer had a key to the museum—whether legitimately or because he stole it—and not only stole the gun, but moved the statue of Nathan Kendall into Scarlet’s room to scare her when she woke up.” Diego saw their startled looks and remembered that they weren’t privy to that information, so he quickly explained. “I also think the killer tried to set her up, somehow putting those pictures on her camera, though how he managed that and then managed to erase them, I don’t know,” he said.

“Well, we’ll know about the camera soon enough; Adam had it sent to Will Chan, and if anyone can figure out how it was hacked, it’s Will,” Meg said with assurance.

“Who’s the artist you mentioned? And when is he coming?” Brett asked.

“She is Jane Everett,” Matt said. “She’s from Texas, and she’s been with the Krewe a few years now. She’s the best I’ve ever seen. She’ll be in and ready to work her magic by tonight.”

“Let’s hope whatever she comes up with will help us find out who he is,” Brett said.

“If he’d been from here, someone would have reported him missing,” Meg said.

Diego looked out the window as the conversation faded. That morning, before they’d left, he’d stopped by the statue of Nathan Kendall. He was going to jokingly thank it for spooking Scarlet and giving him the kind of night that he’d once taken almost for granted and then thought he would never experience again.

Yet he’d never said a word, because something about the mannequin had seemed...different.

He’d only just joined the Krewe, but he’d researched the unit and its members extensively when Matt and Meg had come down to Florida to help with his zombie case.

They all saw the dead, just as he and Brett had.

But the mannequin...

It was wood and paint.

Still, he could have sworn the damned thing had smiled at him as if saying, “Yeah, friend, I did you a big favor. Now take good care of what you have, okay?”

Thinking about the mannequin, the unidentified remains and the murders, he asked, “Where are Nathan and Jillian Kendall buried?”

“We can ask Scarlet—I’m certain she’ll know,” Meg said.

“I’d like to see their graves,” Diego said.

“Not a bad idea,” Matt said.

When they returned to the museum, Diego used his new key to open the door, then disarmed and reset the alarm. It was broad daylight, of course, but an alarm system was only ever as good as the way it was used, and he intended that they should use it.

The others headed up the stairs. He paused in front of the mannequin again.

Had something subtly changed about it? Or was it all in his mind?

He heard laughter drifting down from upstairs. Scarlet’s laughter. It was wonderful to hear it again.

The mannequin stared back at him. Suddenly he found himself back in Miami, in that room at the detention center with the old woman.

I just want to protect her.

Once again, the words seemed to have come from the mannequin.

“Yeah?” he said softly. “Well, so do I. And I’m flesh and blood, and I’m not leaving until she’s safe,” he assured the mannequin. He felt a little like a fool. Ghosts were one thing. Lots of people made very credible claims to have seen and even communicated with them.

But talking to a mannequin? That was something else entirely.

Or was it?

“Diego?” Brett called from the top of the stairs.

He climbed up to join the others and found them gathered around the kitchen table, where an older man who had to be Adam Harrison seemed to be delighting Scarlet.

She looked over at him. “Brett was saying that you wanted to know where Nathan and Jillian were buried. They’re up the little mountain peak behind the stables. There’s a small historic cemetery up there. You can hike to it, which is a long trip, or you can ride.”

“What are the chances of us all taking a ride?” he asked.

“They’re good,” she said. “No new guests have shown up, so the horses are just standing around the corral. And,” she added, grinning, “Angus seems to like you.”

“Adam, are you joining us?” Matt asked.