A Likely Story: A Library Lover's Mystery

by Jenn McKinlay

  “How long are you staying out there?”

  “Emma asked us to wait for Detective Trimble to get here to assist Dr. Griffiths, and then we’re free to go, so I’m hoping to be back within the hour,” Lindsey said. “Is all well at the library?”

  “The lemon is having a fabulous time, giving her shusher a workout while you’re not here,” Beth said. “I saw old man Krakauer give her the stink eye when she gave him a ‘Shh’ with the raised eyebrows and pointer finger to the lips combo.”

  “Oh brother,” Lindsey said. “The lemon” was Beth’s nickname for Ms. Cole, the library’s old-school librarian who really enjoyed shushing and fines. Lindsey knew she should discourage the use of the name, but it fit so perfectly and it had been in use long before she became the director. It was a dilemma.

  “In all fairness to the lemon, he deserved it,” Beth said. “He was watching a soccer match from Germany on one of the computers and was getting a bit boisterous.”

  “So long as she’s not targeting the crying babies and toddlers then we’re good,” Lindsey said.

  “That’s what I figured,” Beth said. “See you soon.”

  “I’ll text you otherwise,” Lindsey said.

  “Be careful.”

  They ended the call, and Lindsey glanced across the water back at town. She could just see the old stone captain’s house that was now the library; well, mostly she could see the flags on its flagpole flapping in the breeze, but still, she knew it was right there waiting for her. She wished she was in her office with a nice hot mug of coffee and some budget worksheets instead of freezing her tail off here in what was turning into a house of horrors.

  She began to pace to keep her blood flowing and try to warm up. She was on her second pass back along the brick path from the deck to the house when she heard the sound of a motor. She turned around and saw Officer Kirkland with Detective Trimble from the state police pulling up to the dock below.

  She waved, and Detective Trimble waved back. He was a good-looking guy, somewhere in his midthirties, always a snappy dresser in a full suit with a tie. He was on the state police force and had helped Emma as well as the previous chief of police work some homicide cases in Briar Creek. Lindsey was quite fond of the detective and had come to think of him as one of their own.

  “Hi, Lindsey, I hear it’s been a rough afternoon for visiting librarians,” Trimble said as he and Kirkland joined her on the upper deck.

  Lindsey shook his hand. Through their gloves, it was impossible to get a good read off of his handshake, but the strength was there, and Lindsey knew from past experience that Trimble was honest and diligent, two qualities that worked really well in a detective.

  “Worse for police chiefs, but yeah, not a great visit,” Lindsey said. “Come on. I’ll show you where Sully and Dr. Griffiths are. You’ve been warned about the booby traps?”

  “Yes,” Trimble said. He frowned at the backyard and all of its junk.

  “Try to step only where I step,” Lindsey said. She turned and led the way to the dainty Victorian.

  Trimble fell in behind her while Kirkland brought up the rear. She guided them over the middle step in the stairs and pointed out the board with the nails in the doorway. If Trimble hadn’t appreciated the precariousness of the situation up until now, she knew this would cause him to reevaluate.

  “Fifteen years on the force and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.

  “Brace yourself. It’s about to get worse,” Lindsey said.

  Once Trimble and the other officers had control of the scene, Sully and Lindsey left. As they climbed back into the water taxi, Lindsey was sure she’d aged at least five years since they’d arrived at the dock.

  “Are you all right?” Sully asked. He fired up the engine and turned the boat toward shore.

  She thought about lying and pretending she was unaffected by the horror they had seen, but instead of giving him a nod, she shook her head. He lifted up his arm, and she scurried under it, hopefully giving as much comfort as she was receiving.

  “It’s all right,” he said. He ran his hand up and down her arm. “I’m feeling a bit shaky myself.”

  Lindsey held on to him as if he were a life preserver in a choppy sea. He was solid and warm, and he smelled good, like linens drying on a spring breeze. She had thought she’d never get the smell of death out of her nose, but Sully was clearly an antidote.

  When they pulled up to the dock, Lindsey realized the sun was already setting. She had missed the entire second half of her workday, and Sully had, too.

  “I don’t know about you,” he said, “but I need a drink.”

  Lindsey nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

  They checked in with Ronnie, who was closing up the office for the night. Sully’s partner Ian had picked up Tim Kessler on Clover Island in their backup boat. Since there’d been no more pickups or drop-offs scheduled for the water taxi, Ronnie had forwarded the phone to send the calls to Charlie Peyton, Sully’s part-time help, who would be on call for the rest of the evening.

  Sully and Lindsey made their way down the big pier to the Blue Anchor, the local watering hole owned by Sully’s sister, Mary, and her husband, Ian, also Sully’s business partner. They joked that it gave Ian, who was a talker, a captive audience for all of his bad jokes and trivia knowledge about anything and everything.

  Sully opened the door for Lindsey, and she was immediately engulfed in the familiar scents and sounds of the pub. At a glance, she could see that the bar was full and most of the tables were, too.

  She took out her phone and sent Beth a text letting her know where she was. She didn’t want to cause any more worry, but her nerves were shot and her feet were frozen. She needed a few minutes to decompress.

  Residents called out greetings to Sully and Lindsey, and they smiled and waved, but by mutual unspoken agreement, they kept in motion and didn’t engage anyone in conversation. Lindsey could see that several people looked like they wanted to ask about what had happened on Star Island, but Sully put his back to them all as he kept Lindsey in front of him, blocking her from the crowd.

  Lindsey was relieved. She wasn’t ready to discuss the day, and she suspected from the firm set of his jaw that Sully wasn’t either.

  They found a tiny table for two in the far corner. It was shoved up against the wall tucked in behind the end of the bar as if it were an extra piece of furniture that Mary and Ian had put there just to get it out of the way. Perfect. They took turns cleaning up in the restroom so as not to lose their table. Lindsey went first.

  Hot soapy water had never felt so good on her hands and face. Thankfully, her hat had protected her hair from the soot and ash of the fire, but the ends were covered in the gray ash, and she took a minute to brush it out with a comb from her purse and felt better for it. Knowing Sully was waiting for his turn, she didn’t linger.

  Mary must have been on the lookout for them, because as soon as Sully returned from the restroom, she arrived at their table with two shots of Jameson. She plopped them down in front of them and said, “Ian says to drink up.”

  Together Sully and Lindsey tossed back the Irish whiskey. Lindsey felt its ball of heat ignite in her chest, and she coughed against the burn in her throat; still, it soothed her frayed nerves, and she smiled at Mary.

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Mary said. She had the same magnetic blue eyes as her brother and the same reddish brown curls, except her hair was much longer and she wore it in a huge knot on top of her head. She scooped up the empty glasses and gave Sully and Lindsey each a quick hug. “I’ll be back in a few minutes with your dinner.”

  “But we didn’t tell you what we want,” Sully protested as he hugged his sister in return.

  “You’ll eat what I put in front of you,” Mary said. “I’ve got Terrence whipping up some soul food for the two of you,
because you sure look like you need it.”

  With that, she left them, and Lindsey smiled in bemusement. “Was she always this bossy?”

  “Yes,” Sully said. “And she’s only gotten worse since she married Ian and has to manage him as well.”

  “Manage me?” Ian barked as he approached the table, bearing two pints of ale. “I’ll have you know, I wear the pants in the family.”

  “That’s only because your legs are no match for hers,” Sully said.

  Ian gave Lindsey a lopsided smiled and said, “That’s a fact. She has an amazing pair of legs. They go all the way up to her . . .”

  “Ahem, brother,” Sully said and pointed to himself as if to remind Ian that he was talking to his wife’s sibling.

  “Oh, right,” Ian said. He turned to Lindsey and made a comical face. “Never marry your best friend’s sister. It makes it all so complicated.”

  “My best friend doesn’t have a sister,” Lindsey teased. “So I think I’m safe.”

  “Lindsey, I’ve been looking for you. Are you all right?”

  Lindsey glanced over Ian’s shoulder to see Robbie Vine approaching.

  “Oh goody,” Sully said. “My day wouldn’t be complete without a visit from the mincing mime.”

  “Can it, water boy,” Robbie said.

  Ian looked like he wanted to pull up a seat and watch the verbal sparring match between the two men, but Lindsey shooed him away as she rose to greet Robbie.

  “Hi, Robbie,” she said. She gave him a quick hug. “Would you care to join us?”

  Sully made a sound like he was being strangled, and Robbie frowned at him.

  “Thank you, love,” Robbie said with a pointed look at Sully. “But I can’t. I’m taking the train into New York for a meeting, but I wanted to see you before I left.”

  “Oh,” Lindsey said.

  She wasn’t sure what to say, since she and Robbie were friends, good friends, but that was it, at least on her end. As she had told Sully, she didn’t do the dating-a-married-man thing even if he was married in name only. She was firm with Robbie about this, and they had been awkward friends ever since.

  “I heard about what happened today out on Star Island,” Robbie said. “Are you all right?”

  “It was rough, but I’m rallying,” she said. “Thanks for checking on me.”

  “Of course,” he said. “You know how important you are to me. I’ll cancel my trip if you need a supportive shoulder to lean on.”

  Sully rolled his eyes and made a huffing sound.

  Lindsey reached out and squeezed Robbie’s arm. “That’s very kind of you, but I’m all right. Please don’t cancel anything on account of me.”

  Robbie ran a hand through his reddish blond hair, making it stand up in exasperated tufts. Lindsey got the feeling he was struggling with what to say, which was unusual for a man who was so fond of the sound of his own voice.

  “The truth is, Lindsey, the meeting concerns you,” he said.

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  Robbie opened his mouth to speak and then glanced at Sully, who was now watching them with undisguised interest.

  “Do you mind?” he asked Sully. “Could we have a minute in private here?”

  Sully glanced at Lindsey, and she nodded that it was okay. He rose from his seat and glowered at Robbie.

  “I’ll be right at the bar if you need me,” he said to Lindsey.

  “Need him?” Robbie asked. He sounded outraged. “What exactly would you need him for if you’re with me?”

  Lindsey blew out a breath. “What did you need to tell me, Robbie?”

  “I think it would be safe to say that things have been at a standstill between us,” he said. He took her hands in his and turned her away from the table so they were facing each other.

  “There is no ‘us,’” Lindsey said. She squeezed his hands in hers in what she hoped was a kind gesture. “We’re just friends.”

  “Because I’m married,” he said.

  “Well, yes,” she said.

  He studied her face as if he was trying to decide something and then he nodded as if he had made a decision. “I have something to ask you, and it’s very important.”

  “Oh, all right,” she said. “What can I do for you?”

  “I need you to make me a promise,” he said.

  “This sounds serious,” she said. She tipped her head to study his earnest expression. For a man who made his living by wearing his emotions on the outside, she was having a tough time figuring out what was going on in his head. “I’ll make the promise if I can.”

  “Excellent. Tell me you’ll be here for me when I get back,” he said hopefully.

  “Well, of course, I’ll be here. I live here. Was that it?” she said. She was relieved his request hadn’t been for something more serious, something she wasn’t prepared to give.

  “That’s all I ask,” he said.

  Before Lindsey had a second to register it, he pulled her close and planted a kiss on her that was as hot and steamy as one of his romantic liaisons from the silver screen, a real bone-wilter.

  When he released her, Lindsey had to grab the back of her chair to steady herself. He grinned.

  “See you in a few days, love,” he said. He turned to leave and then turned back. “If you need me, for anything, call me. I’ll come running.”

  Lindsey opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, so she nodded instead. This seemed to suit him, as he left the Anchor, whistling a sappy tune about true love.

  “Please tell me that was an ‘I’ve been deported’ good-bye kiss,” Sully said as he rejoined her at the table.

  Lindsey noted the two spots of red on his cheeks, this time not from the cold, and the glitter in his eyes. She couldn’t blame him for being irritated. If the situation were reversed and some woman had kissed Sully like that, she’d be thoroughly annoyed. Then again, she wasn’t sure she’d be all that thrilled if Robbie kissed another woman like that either. Ish, what a mess!

  “Well, he is leaving town for a few days,” she said. She wasn’t sure what stopped her, but she decided not to mention his request that she be here for him when he returned. She didn’t want to vex Sully for no reason, and if Robbie was off to see Kitty, his manager/wife in name only, he might change his mind about wanting Lindsey to be waiting for him. “So, it was a sort of good-bye.”

  Sully’s face cleared, and he looked almost chipper at that news. “How long will the canned ham be gone?”

  Lindsey gave him a chastising look. “He didn’t say, but I expect it may be a while.”

  “Well, I suppose I’ll have to make the most of his absence,” he said. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

  “What do you—?” she began but was interrupted by Mary bearing two heaping plates of roast beef, mashed potatoes and green beans, accompanied by a basket of freshly baked sourdough rolls.

  “Here you go,” she said as she put the plates down on the table. “And I expect you to eat every bite.”

  Lindsey and Sully didn’t have to be told twice. The hours spent in the cold had given them both an appetite, and they tucked into their plates as if they hadn’t seen food in days instead of just hours.

  Lindsey was swabbing the last of her gravy with a roll when Beth arrived. She grabbed an empty chair from a nearby table and sat down.

  “Lindsey, we have to talk,” she said.

  “And hello to you, too,” Sully said.

  “Sorry.” Beth cringed. “I’m on a mission. Let me have a do-over.” She shook her head as if rewinding her brain. Then she forced a smile and said, “Hi, you guys, how are you?”

  Sully and Lindsey exchanged a glance. He had one eyebrow up that clearly asked if Beth was kidding. She had to be, since she knew they’d been out on the island and had found Peter Rosen’s
body. Lindsey shrugged.

  “It was a bit of a rough day,” Sully said. “But we’re doing better now.”

  He glanced at Lindsey as if to confirm, and she nodded. She noticed that Beth looked agitated, so she washed the bite of bread down with the last of her beer and asked, “Is everything all right with you?”

  “No, it’s a nightmare,” Beth said. “An absolute nightmare.”

  “Did something happen at the library?” Lindsey asked. She was half out of her chair, ready to race back to her precious building, when Beth shook her head.

  “No, it’s me,” she wailed. “I’ve been tallying my numbers for my story times and they’re down.”

  Lindsey relaxed against the back of her seat. “Define down.”

  “Plummeting,” Beth said. Her lower lip wobbled, and tears shone in her eyes.

  Sully lurched back from the table as if launched by rocket fuel. He looked helpless against Beth’s tears. “I’m just going to go settle up with Ian.”

  “Let me give you money,” Lindsey said.

  “No,” he refused. “This is on me.”

  “But—” Lindsey started to protest, but he interrupted.

  “No buts. If you need anything, call me.”

  His blue eyes were somber, and Lindsey knew that he meant if the vision of Peter Rosen hit her in the middle of the night, she was free to call him for support. She really hoped that didn’t happen, but she appreciated the offer all the same. As he walked by her, she reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a solid squeeze.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  He kissed the top of her head before leaving them with a wave.

  Beth was glancing between them. “Care to share?”

  “Just bonding through adversity,” Lindsey said. “Come on. Let’s go get our bikes and you can tell me why you’re freaking out on the way.”

  They left the Anchor, waving to Mary and Ian as they went. It was dark now, and the temperature had dropped. Lindsey burrowed into her coat, pulling her scarf up over her nose as they walked across the park back to the library.