After we’d enjoyed breakfast and a long, lingering goodbye, Anelya raced off to get her clothes at home before her shift.
“I don’t feel like going in today,” Greg admitted. “But I know some of the interns are there on the weekend. And I feel like we need to be around all the time now.”
“I know what you mean,” I said. “But I’m kind of interested in what she said about that Jared person looking like Stephen.”
“You think that might have something to do with everything that is happening?” Greg folded his arms over his chest.
“I don’t know. You know I love your Dad, but you said yourself that your mom said they were separated when you were little. He would never talk to you about that, right?”
“But why come sabotage us? That seems like a big stretch.”
“We’ve had others try to hurt our company before – former employees, competitors, and former board members who just didn’t like your dad. I asked Bryan to run checks on all of them. Why not look into this too?”
Greg nodded. “I am suspicious of everyone now. I wish I could talk with Dad directly.”
I did too, but I knew my Mom and Step-dad had gone to counseling before about how Stephen had a hard time opening up. He rarely discussed Greg’s mother as it was.
“How will you look that up?”
“The genealogy department at the public library. Remember, we helped fund it.”
Greg nodded. “Good thought. But how will you keep it quiet?”
That would be harder. “I’ll say we are looking into the history of the company for our 100 anniversary next year.”
“Smart.”
He started to turn to go upstairs and get ready, then stopped. “Anelya is amazing.”Greg, like his dad, was not effusive, so I knew he was very serious about her. I was, too.
“Yeah, she really is. That scene today was one of what I hope will be many morning scenes like it.”
He nodded. “We just need to convince her.”
***
The Grockton Memorial Public Library was named after Greg’s mother, as were areas of the hospital.
When I was younger, I’d loved coming here after my parents divorced. My dad now lived in California, and I looked forward to bringing Anelya for a visit to meet him. But when they were arguing a lot when I was eleven or so, I’d started coming here after school and losing myself in manga books.
A kind librarian had me join a video game club, too. It had been a nice escape at the time. When Greg donated money to the library, I’d made sure funds were directed to the Teen Center also.
I passed the Teen Center on my way up to the local history and genealogy center, noticing a group of girls playing video games on a big screen. Three boys were recording something in a sound booth.
My smile lasted until I got upstairs and found the 50thanniversary volume of Grockton Fine Furnishings. We had oneat the office of course, but I didn’t want everyone to know what I was looking into. No one was up here in the local history and genealogy loft on a Saturday afternoon.
I also pulled histories of the town, and family registries, too. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for and knew more genealogy might be available online. If Stephen had more children, would that be officially listed anywhere, though? I wasn’t sure.
An hour later, I closed the company history with a frustrated thump. I didn’t think there was information in there I didn’t know, but I was hoping there would be something about someone else taking over the company for a year or two while Stephen did international sales.
Greg had mentioned his father started the international line when he was young, but we still didn’t sell as much internationally except to Canada. Were there research trips to Europe? I’d have to look into the company financial history. That might get attention, but we had to learn what was going on.
***
The town family history was in my hand when the fire alarm went off in the library. I stuck it into my bag and went outside with the other patrons. The library had RFID and I knew there would be a record of me taking it out. I’d come back another time. When I was at my car, I saw a large police presence, and then the fire rigs started pulling in.
This was more than a usual fire alarm.
“Hey, are you at the library?” Greg was texting me. “I’m on my way; there’s a bomb scare.”
