by Jane Cousins
“I’m sure I never agreed to kill anyone.”
“Oh, quit it with the dumb act. I know how you operate. Unlike the younger generation, I grew up watching your antics. I was twenty-six when you left on your sabbatical. Enough with the games. We had a quid pro quo arrangement. I agreed to interview Cara when she first arrived at the Sanctuary. You would look into getting Lester Cullen turfed out.”
“I hadn’t realised he was still a thorn in your side, Darling Girl. It’s not like you ever spend time with the man. I heard on the grapevine that thanks to your changing the day, time, or venue at the last minute he has yet to attend a monthly staff meeting. And other than one emergency meeting that you called, you haven’t dealt with the man face to face in over a year. I suppose I just assumed you had agreed to give each other space and live and let live.”
“You and I had an agreement.” Patricia reiterated.
“Hmmm, as I recall, I said I would help. Okay, I’ll live up to my end of the bargain, but I personally won’t be responsible. If you truly want Cullen to concede the Annexe and renege any connection to the Library, then you are going to have to do your own dirty work.”
“Yes. Yes. Just tell me what I need to do.”
“The answer has been staring you in the face all this time, Darling Girl. I’m just surprised you haven’t thought of it yourself.” Alma noted Patricia’s puzzled expression. “The Town Charter.”
“That thing? That’s what got me into this mess in the first place. Library Annexe…” Grrr. Patricia still couldn’t think about it without grinding her teeth.
“Yes. Let’s not revisit the court case, shall we? Look to the future I always say. Now, I suggest you read the Charter-”
“There’s nothing in there but pages and pages of antiquated policies.”
Alma’s brown eyes twinkled. “Exactly.”
Patricia frowned for a moment, following through on the idea. “Are you saying… Goddess, all those policies can be applied to the Annexe. If it fails to adhere, there are penalties. He could lose his certification.” Yes, Lester Cullen could very soon be a niggling irritant no longer. “But even if he loses the Annexe, there’s no guarantee he’ll leave the Sanctuary.”
Alma’s eyes widened in surprise, her cup clinking as she dropped it rather heavily onto the fragile saucer. “Patricia, you really want to drive the man out of town? I thought you were just peeved at his interference in Library matters. Do you really abhor him so much that you would deny him the sanctuary he obviously so desperately needs?”
Damn, Patricia had never stopped to consider why Lester Cullen had chosen to re-locate here. Those that did so were usually seeking something or running from someone. She had watched him closely at social events, not because she was intrigued by him, but because she was intent upon avoiding him. And the man gave off neither of those vibes.
He was polite. Not standoffish, but tending to stick to the peripheral. He’d become quite friendly with the members of the Alpha Enforcement Squad. Spending time with the Elite Enforcers at the Fitness Centre and occasionally meeting them for a drink at the Five Alarm Bar. The grapevine had provided the information that he was an excellent marksman, though it was more of a sport for him, not a vocation.
But there had never been any clues dropped or gossip circulated as to why Lester Cullen had moved here, or why he stayed.
“I barely know the man.”
“Tsk. Tsk. You’ve been spending too much time in that musty book vault of yours. He’s perfectly pleasant.”
Really, pleasant? Alma didn’t pick up on that underlying simmering dangerous vibe that Patricia had sensed in his presence? She didn’t think he was a little too observant? Watchful? “My book vault is not musty. And you’re right. Lester Cullen is perfectly entitled to live in the Southern Sanctuary. But he is not entitled to steal library books, designate his Potting Shed as an Annexe and mislead people into thinking he is a trained librarian. You know how vital research and the gathering of information is here at the Southern Sanctuary. We maintain the cryptozoology field guide for the Enforcers. We source all texts, historical and new, for the magical and mystical set. And let’s not forget how dependent the Garden and Potion-making Club have become on our world-wide information and seed exchange program.”
“Oh, you don’t need to sing the praises of how important the Library is to our community, magical and otherwise. And I get it, trust me. Why, if an interloper just arrived and started matchmaking willy-nilly, I’d be just as upset.”
“I’m concerned, that’s all. We don’t need a Library Annexe in the Southern Sanctuary, we have the Library.”
Alma finished her tea, placing the cup down she looked out at the Nature Reserve full of Eucalyptus trees, ferns and flowering shrubs all warring for space. The sun was setting and the dusky light was turning the leaves a darker shade. Somewhere close by a kookaburra laughed. “Well, I wish you good luck in your endeavours.”
Patricia placed her own cup down on the table and stood up. “Thank you, for all your help.” She blinked as Alma sent her a smile. Damn, no, Alma’s brown eyes hadn’t been full of shimmering golden stars, had they? No, it had to be a trick of the light and the lengthening shadows.
As Patricia made her way across the veranda, heading inside, she heard the kookaburra laugh again, closer still. It was silly to imagine the bird was laughing at her. Great-Aunt Alma couldn’t have any agenda here other than living up to her end of their bargain, could she?
No, she was being fanciful. She was turning fifty in a few months, she was way too old to be in Alma’s matchmaking crosshairs. Huh, she’d just like to see her Great-Aunt pull her perfect match out at this late date. Damn, just imagine if an ageing Warrior arrived to sweep Patricia off her feet, he’d probably put his back out or rupture something vital.
No, she was definitely too old to believe in fairy-tales anymore. She was all about reality. And it was past time that she reclaimed her books and the status of running the only Library in the Southern Sanctuary.
Yes, so Lester Cullen better watch his ass, because she was gunning for it. And there was no reason for that thought to send a spike of heat through her lower body. Goddess, that’s what she got for drinking tea so late in the day.
A smile tilted up the edges of Patricia’s wide mouth as she imagined a bullseye pinned to Lester Cullen’s tight ass. Let the games begin.
* * *
Patricia had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing as one by one each of her employees popped their head into the conference room, their eyes inevitably widening in a comic fashion to actually find Patricia there. Yes, for the first time in a year and a half they were going to have the monthly staff meeting at the time, date and venue that was listed on the meeting invite.
She ignored the stir this was creating as each of her staff proceeded to enter rather hesitantly, their gaze immediately travelling to those already seated, trying to get a clue as to what was going on.
Patricia bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling smugly as she eyed the agenda sitting on the table in front of her. After two days of scouring the Town Charter she had all her ammunition locked and loaded on one little sheet of paper.
Everyone’s attention in the conference room abruptly shifted to the doorway as a loud bang echoed from somewhere in the Magical and Mystical Wing and then four seconds later Cara Devigne entered, cheeks flaming red with embarrassment. “Sorry, my fault.”
A deep male voice followed in her wake. “Move it along people, nothing to see here but some inexplicably disintegrating bookcases. Everything is under control.”
Cara cringed as she took a seat next to Marta. “Sorry.” She muttered under her breath again. “Erik will fix it.”
Patricia chose not to comment, instead looking around the large conference table, counting heads. The Library didn’t open until noon on a Wednesday. All twenty-four full time staff were present. Eight of the fourteen part-time staff were here. Six having sent their r
egrets. And the two Enforcers, assigned to the Library for their two week rotation, were busy patrolling the vault and the Magical and Mystical Wing. Which just left… ah, here he was now.
Lester Cullen didn’t look surprised as he strode into the room. His demeanour confident and determined. As if he had called this meeting and was the one in charge. Taking a seat at the opposite end of the conference table.
There was something too perfect, almost too calculated about the man. Black hair, neither too long, nor too short, brushed back from his angular face. His strong jaw clean shaven. His skin tanned as if he’d been out in the sun. And those jade coloured eyes, assessing, missing nothing, sparkling with intensity.
At least he wasn’t wearing a full on three piece suit today, but even in the formal black trousers, matching waistcoat, black tie and silk shirt, he exuded a take charge aura.
Not on Patricia’s watch. She cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. “Let’s begin, shall we?”
She nodded at Gregor, whose turn it was to take the minutes. As was standard practise she ran quickly down the list of outstanding actions left over from their last monthly meeting. Closing out two items. Extending the deadline for the rest.
“Now, on to new business. I’ve been going over the storytelling rotation timetable and realise we’ve made a glaring omission.”
“We did?” Carol, sitting next to Patricia, quickly called up a file on the open tablet in front of her. “Who…?” She looked to her boss and then noticed where Patricia’s gaze was fixed. “Oh.”
“Me?” Cullen was surprised. Damn, he could count on one hand the number of times he’d been surprised. The last time had been almost two years ago now when Patricia Bennett had stomped into his Potting Shed and almost overloaded his magic with her sheer perfection. He’d learnt to calibrate his reactions to her by now, even so, his heart thumped loudly in his chest, and his blood all but sang in his veins every time he caught a glimpse of her.
“Yes, you do consider yourself part of the Southern Sanctuary Library, don’t you?”
Cullen could feel a trap about to spring shut but couldn’t sense the size, nature or damage it was going to inflict as yet. Patricia Bennett was setting him up, he knew it bone deep. And damn it, if he wasn’t anticipating the pleasure of matching wits with her.
Seems like his quarry was finally going to stop actively avoiding him. Which was his own damn fault in hindsight. If he hadn’t been so… stunned by Patricia, then he would have realised how deeply he would sting her pride by winning the court case and having his Potting Shed declared an official Library Annexe.
If he hadn’t been so eager to see her again, match wits, he would have realised how seriously she took her job. Once the verdict had been declared though, and he’d seen the shock and real anger in her eyes he realised he had miscalculated… so unlike him. Except of course when it came to Patricia Bennett.
All he could do was continue down the path he had laid out and wait… pray, that one day she would come after him. And it seemed that day was today.
Sure, the timing could have been better, but he could multi-task. “Yes, I consider myself deeply committed to the Southern Sanctuary Library.”
Patricia fought not to squirm, pinned in place by intense jade green eyes that seemed to be suggesting that Lester Cullen equated her with the Library, and he was making some kind of pledge, promise. Don’t get distracted. Not when you are so close to sending the man running for the hills. “Excellent. Carol, would you add Lester’s name to the storytelling rotation?”
“Ah, as to that particular assignment, isn’t there another project I could help with? It’s just I haven’t had a lot of experience with children.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Great-Uncle Nestor is heading up the ICMDP, he’ll be on hand to give you some pointers. You’ll be fine.”
“ICMDP?”
“Infant and child magical development program. You’ll only have an audience of two babies under four months to start. I have faith your storytelling mojo will blossom in no time. Problem?” It was a hard won battle for Patricia not to cackle in glee at the sight of Cullen paling slightly at the mention of babies.
“No. I’m just not sure how relevant my developing any storytelling… mojo is.”
“Oh, I think it’s vitally important you are prepared. After all, given you say you don’t control which books magically appear in your Po… Annexe, whose to say a whole swag of children’s books won’t be coming your way very soon. And with it, children visiting your Annexe. Lots and lots of children. In fact, Carol, since Lester is now such a vitally important part of our Library service offering here in the District, why don’t you go ahead and add his name to the rotation for all our special projects.”
“Special projects?” Yes, he could definitely feel that trap squeezing him now. This was getting decidedly interesting. Who knew the library world would be so fraught with intrigue and high drama. Cullen found himself kind of enjoying the feeling of not knowing where he was being herded.
“The Library’s mission statement since our inauguration had been to support, guide and protect the community, the Sanctuary, as a whole. As such, special projects have been initiated over the years, and it is deemed mandatory that all staff are au-fait with those projects, so that they might contribute and should there be a crisis, step up and lead.”
“Mandatory?”
“Yes, is that a problem for you? Do you feel the commitment of becoming involved with our special projects may be too much?”
“Timing could be a factor, I do have the Annexe to oversee.”
“Well, that dovetails nicely with my next point, Lester. The Annexe has become an essential part of the Library, as such, I think you should have support staff. I mean, what if you want to take a vacation? Or become ill? And your opening hours have been a little… adhoc, it would be nice if they were more structured, rigid. Carol, draw up a staff rotation timetable for the Annexe.”
“Um.” Carol’s fingers hesitated above the keyboard as she looked to Patricia for more guidance.
“I don’t want the main branch to suffer any shortages so feel free to call up a few of our eager volunteers to fill in any gaps in the Annexe roster if needed. Now-”
Cullen cleared his throat. “Before we move on to other business, I was just wondering if you could provide me with more details regarding the on-going special projects? The ones you said my name would be added to.”
“We do have a list somewhere. I’ll forward it to you.”
“Most kind. And just a reminder, my name is Cullen.”
“Oh, of course.” Patricia beamed him a fake smile. “My bad. Now, I also wanted to double check with you… Cullen, just a few small things that will need to be addressed before the end of the year in regards to the Annexe.”
“Yes?” He was almost afraid to ask, yet, damn it, if he wasn’t enjoying Patricia Bennett finally making her big move to oust him. Bring it, woman. He was looking forward to tangling with her, preferably in a lot more intimate setting and without an avid audience present.
“The Annexe is up to code in regards to our fire standards, correct? And what about the occupational health and safety requirements? They are rather rigorous.”
“I’m sure the Annexe is fine.”
“Excellent. Then Carol, go ahead and schedule those inspections. Let’s say next week, shall we? Is that okay with you, Les… Cullen?”
“Absolutely. I’m looking forward to your up close and personal perusal of my Annexe.”
Patricia fought not to frown, why did his words sound dirty? Sexy? No, she was imagining things. “And of course you have a community board up to date and located where all visitors can see it?”
“That’s another mandatory requirement?”
“Oh, yes. And you know how fast news travel here, it’s a wonder you are able to keep it up to date.”
“I like a challenge.” Jade coloured eyes clashed with hazel copper flecked orbs.
&nbs
p; Patricia swallowed, glancing down at her list. “Oh, and holiday decorations. I understand we were a bit lax last year, not including you in our decorating budget. But I think you’ll be pleased to hear we’ve rectified that. When they are delivered, please hang them to code.”
“More rules?”
“More mandatory rules.” Patricia corrected.
“And there would be penalties involved?” Cullen enquired, his tone mild.
“Stiff penalties. I’d hate to see the Annexe have to close its doors permanently if it failed to meet all the legal, Charter mandated requirements that all facets of the Southern Sanctuary Library must adhere to.”
“Yes, it would be a travesty.”
“Well, that’s all for today’s-”
“Wait.” Marta held up a green velvet bag. “It’s the final week of November, and you all know what that means, Kris Kringle time.” Marta reached into the bag, pulled out a piece of paper then handed the bag over to Cara.
Patricia dutifully plucked out a piece of paper when it was her turn. Gathering her things together as the meeting broke up she couldn’t help but feel very, very pleased. She’d laid the groundwork for the demise of the dreaded Library Annexe.
Shortly, the annoying Lester Cullen would no longer be the buzzing irritant that gnawed at her constantly. His laisse faire attitude would soon be a thing of the past. The Annexe would shut down. All her books would be returned to where they belonged and her life could return to normal.
No more walking through her Library discovering rows of bookshelves suddenly empty and knowing, with sick dread, exactly where the contents had disappeared to, and being unable to do anything about it. No more plotting when it came to monthly staff meetings. Having to change the date, time, or venue, just so Cullen would be forced to miss it. No more having to watch him closely at social events, purely so she could avoid having to converse with the irritating man.
Back in her office, Patricia closed the door and sat down at her desk, sinking back into the comfy ergonomic chair and smiling, feeling a little smug. Lester Cullen had used the rules, the Town Charter, to win in court. Having his Potting Shed designated as an official Library Annexe. It seemed only fitting that she use that same Charter to grind him down with rules and regulations until he waved the white flag and admitted defeat.
