She nodded and stood.
After disposing of our trash, we headed out to the truck and in minutes, were back at the library.
Cool air blasted us in the face as we stepped inside.
My gaze roved over the cavernous space. There were more people here today than yesterday, but it was earlier too.
Heading for the reference desk, the same librarian from last evening sat at the computer. He glanced up as we approached and smiled. “Back again?”
With a polite smile, I nodded. “And with a shorter list.”
“That’s good, I hope?”
“It is,” Mina replied.
“Good. When you’re ready for me to fetch the microfiche, just let me know.”
“Thank you,” I said, then gave Mina a nudge toward the catalogue computer.
Grabbing an extra chair, I pulled it over and sat at an angle. Mina sank into the rolling chair in front of the monitor and opened her handbag, taking out the list of names and a pen before handing them to me.
“All right”—she cracked her knuckles—“let’s do this.” Fingers poised over the keyboard, she typed in the first name.
We worked through the list, and I wrote down the reference numbers. There seemed to be more articles on these women, perhaps because the cases were newer.
“That’s the last thing I see for this one.” Mina glanced over, having scrolled through the search results for the final name on our list.
“Sounds good. Hang out here. I’ll be right back.” Getting up, I headed over to the reference librarian and gave him the list.
Taking the paper, he glanced at it. “Let’s go one name at a time, yeah? So I don’t overwhelm you with microfiche rolls.”
“That works.”
“Great.” The man pushed away from the desk. “Give me just a couple minutes. I’ll bring them to you.” He nodded toward the microfiche readers.
“Okay, thank you.” Backing up, I turned and caught Mina’s attention and tipped my head toward the readers.
She got up and headed that way, picking up the extra chair and bringing it with her.
An older gentleman shuffled in front of her, not paying any attention to his surroundings. She paused, waiting for him, then continued, reaching the readers at the same time I did.
“It’s busy in here,” she commented, setting the chair down.
“Yeah. I think this place is a designated cooling shelter.” Once more, I glanced around the library. Many people were just sitting around in groups on their phones, although there were also plenty who had books open.
“This time of year is when I wish it were worth it to have a pool up here.”
I chuckled. “There are plenty of natural streams and lakes you can take a dip in.”
She shuddered. “Been there, done that. That’s a folly of youth. Even in the summer, the water is cold.”
“Nah, it’s refreshing.” One side of my mouth tilted as I turned my head to look at her.
She laughed, sitting down in the extra chair, leaving the one in front of the machine for me. “Sure. If you say so. I’ll stick to tropical waters, though.”
An image of Mina in a bikini popped into my head. Those full breasts pushing against her t-shirt would fill a swim top quite nicely. And the bottoms would show off the swell of her hips to perfection.
Swallowing hard, I worked to banish the picture before my body reacted. I sank into the chair beside her and crossed one leg over my knee, leaning forward while we waited on the librarian. “The beach does sound nice. What do you think? Key West?”
