“We’re late,” she said, although we weren’t. “Shall we go in? I’ll brief Maggie on the way.” With a nod at Ray, she put her hand on my arm and steered me over the asphalt. I realized I’d never walked beside Janis. Most of the time I’d stared up at her behind a podium. Her dark, curly head came to my shoulder now, and there were sparse patches of scalp that shone in the sun, but her grip was strong and her stride quick and forceful. She radiated energy and determination as she launched into telling me about Steve Goetz and Hal Giroux’s secret plan to build a massive free museum for Goetz’s contemporary art collection two blocks away from the Rocque. “They’re already in negotiation with the city for building permits,” she said. “I think Goetz has a grudge with me over the Kim Lord business.”

“Two blocks away?” I said. “How did you find out?”

“I have my spies. They’re much farther along than we expected,” she said in a bitter voice. “Our lease comes up next year, and the city might pressure us to make our museum free, too. They might even decide not to renew the lease. We’re in a race against time.”

The hush-hush nature of the plan proved the men’s animosity toward Janis. They wanted to wipe her out. Sure, she would always get credit for being a downtown pioneer, but Goetz and Giroux would arrive as conquerors to replace her.

“Hal’s done with this place,” Janis said as we stepped onto LAAC’s paved arcade, which led to the green main building, with its two blank glass doors. “He wants a grand exit to a better opportunity, but there aren’t many for a guy his age. It’s my belief that he tried to bury Brenae’s suicide and her artwork so he could keep his reputation spotless and make this leap. Big-time director of the big-time Goetz Museum.” She paused, her hold on my arm tightening. “I didn’t want to share the news with anyone who worked at the Rocque until I was sure. But you still need to keep it—and this whole investigation—to yourself. We might find enough; we might find nothing.” She jabbed her chin at Ray. “He’s interested in seeing the layout here, thinks it might shed some light on who came and went after Brenae died. Today, you and I can just keep quiet and support him. He’s a very good investigator,” she added as if I were just meeting Ray. “Very thorough and discreet.”