I couldn’t do it. I’d worked hard for the museum. For five years I’d struggled to bring it into its own, to give our people and their art the standing they deserved in this community. I was not going to throw that all away by revealing our staff as embezzlers on the day of what should be our greatest triumph.
And, face it, I’d worked hard for me. I’d come out of the university with a lot of flimsy theoretical training and landed myself a better job than most graduates. Sure, it had little prestige. Sure, I’d done everything from making coffee to cleaning the rest room. But it was a damned good job for someone whose grandparents had been migrant field workers, and I’d made something of it. If the museum sank in the wake of a scandal, I would sink with it. Then there might not be a second chance for me.
“Well, Miss Oliverez?”‘ Kirk said.
“All right! I didn’t handle it well. I’ve never been involved in anything like this before, and I didn’t know what to do.”
“Logic should have told you that.”
“Then I’m not logical! Would you give me a break?”
“I have given you all the breaks you have coming.”
What did that mean? “Look, Lieutenant Kirk, I have a museum to run, an opening to prepare for. Are you going to have someone go over my car or what?”
“I’ll have someone go over it right away.” He reached for his desk phone. “You can have it back in an hour. I trust that won’t cause your opening to be delayed.”
I stood up. “I’ll be back for it at noon.”
Kirk sat, still holding the phone. “Miss Oliverez, I sense you’re holding something back.”
“Me? No. Of course I’m not. I’ve tried to help…”
“And that’s another odd thing. You certainly have tried to help. The other people connected with the museum merely answered my questions and then stayed out of it. But you’ve been bringing me these… tidbits of information daily. Why?”
“Because I don’t think you’re doing your job!” The words were out before I could stop them.
Kirk’s jaw hardened. There was a measured silence before he spoke. “After your opening, I’ll show you how I do my job, Miss Oliverez.”
I backed toward the door.
“If your museum weren’t important in this town,” he added, “and if you didn’t have a lot of influential supporters, I’d start doing my job right now-and to hell with your opening.” He paused and seemed to make an effort to regain his professional calm. “The truth is, though, I’m rather looking forward to the party.”
“You’ll be there?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Por Dios, did he plan to arrest me at the opening? Immediately afterward?
I turned tail and fled.
Now you’ve done it, Elena, I thought as I ran down the stairs rather than wait for the elevator. You’re really in trouble now.
If I couldn’t find out who Frank’s murderer was by the end of the Cinco de Mayo party, it would probably spell the ruin of my career. To say nothing of my life.
thirteen
I arrived at the museum at one-fifteen, disgusted with myself because I had wolfed down a hot fudge sundae with walnuts and cherries for lunch. Its sweetness had not comforted me, only made me slightly sick.
Maria looked up from her typing as I came in. “Don Carlos, to see you.” She gestured at Frank’s office.
I glanced back there and saw our board chairman seated at the desk. Then I looked back at Maria. “You’re looking very good today.” Her cheeks were pink, and she had her hair done up on top of her head in a fancy new style.
“I have reason.” She held out her left hand. On the third finger was a small emerald-cut diamond.
So she and Jesse were serious about the engagement. I supposed it was in bad taste, coming even before Frank’s funeral, but bad taste had ceased to matter very much to me these days. My primary emotion was relief that Maria had something to take her mind off the cuts on my forehead.
“Congratulations,” I said. “Have you set a date?”
“We will go to Reno to be married next week, after the funerario has been held. There is no point to having a wedding; my aunt would not attend.”
“Well, I’m happy for you.” The museum would have to buy them a wedding present. I would ask Vic to pick it out; he always chose the right thing… Then I remembered that Vic was an embezzler. He would not be picking out any more gifts.
As if my thoughts had conjured him up, Vic came out of Frank’s office, saying something over his shoulder to Carlos. He saw me and smiled, but I avoided his eyes, afraid he would somehow read my mind. I went into the office to find Carlos swiveled around toward the window, staring meditatively at the courtyard.
“Mr. Bautista. Good afternoon.”
He turned, a handsome gray-haired man dressed casually in golf clothes. His eyes took in the cuts on my forehead, and he frowned. “Elena, have you had an accident?”
“Only a small one. It’s nothing.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” Then he smiled, gesturing at my faded jeans. “At this museum even the acting director does dirty work, eh?”
I took the hand he extended, conscious as I always was of an attraction between us. Carlos was a widower, and I’d sensed for a long time that his interest in me was more than professional. He, on the other hand, must have felt my reluctance to pursue a relationship with a colleague, and had never once dropped his somewhat old-fashioned courtesy.
“I have to help with the guacamole and quesadillas,” I said.
“Then I’m sure they’ll be delicious.” His smile faded, and he motioned toward the courtyard. “Those… are those the plants Frank spent hundreds of our dollars on?”
The one closest to the window still sagged to the ground. “Uh, yes.”
He shook his head.
“Excuse me a second.” I went out and looked around for the stake to tie the plant to. It wasn’t anywhere nearby. Finally I located it where it had fallen through the grating that covered the cellar window directly under the office window. The spaces between the bars were too narrow for my hand to fit through, and I quickly gave up. Looking through the window bars at Carlos, I shrugged and went back inside. “I’ll find something to tie it to before the party.”
“Please. I hate to see thirty dollars dragging its head in the dirt.”
I sat down across the desk from Carlos. “What did Vic want to see you about?”
“There are some bills he can’t pay, and we’ve received dunning notices. Fortunately, they’re from people I can persuade to hold off for a while.”
I felt a surge of anger. The bills couldn’t be paid because Tony had been flying first class to South America and bringing back artworks. “What would we do without your help?” I murmured absently. Maybe I should tell Carlos about the embezzlement right now. Surely he wouldn’t allow it to jeopardize the opening?
“De nada.” Carlos waved a hand, his eyes thoughtful. “Vic doesn’t look so good, Elena.”
“How do you mean?”
“Tired. And I think he’s been drinking too much.”
“He’s taking Frank’s death hard.”
“That’s understandable. They’ve been friends as long as I’ve known them, and that’s many years.”
It occurred to me that Carlos was also on the board of the Hernandez Foundation. “Did you know them back when they worked for the Hernandez Foundation?”
“Oh, yes. In fact, the job that Frank did there impressed me enough that I suggested him as director when we were considering forming this museum.”
“I see. Then you must have been pleased that he decided to bring Vic along with him.”
Carlos’s eyes clouded.“ T am very fond of Vic.”‘ But he had some reservation.