AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“George Klein.”
Adam blinked. “Klein? He’s one of the top physicists in Europe. If not the world.”
“No wonder Dad heard about it. Keep your ear to the ground on this one, just in case.”
She updated him on the latest party details before they said goodbye and ended the call. Adam did an quick internet search for information about Thornwall and Klein, but there was only a short paragraph about the charge in a science newsletter.
He stuck his phone in his back pocket and folded up a camera tripod. Although he still wanted to see Thornwall taken down—and Laura was right that Klein stood a much better chance of doing the taking down than Adam had—he wasn’t going to hold his breath.
Not only did legal proceedings move at the speed of tectonic plates but he’d also bet there was already a behind-closed-doors discussion taking place that would both let Thornwall off the hook and return all credit to Klein.
But it was good to think Thornwall hadn’t gotten away with it again.
He and the crew finished cleaning up, and they filed out with waves and calls of, “See you tomorrow.” When he closed the front doors behind them, Adam realized he hadn’t seen Bee in the past few hours. And now, finally, he got to be alone with her.
After searching for her to no avail, he pulled out his phone. She’d said to text him if he needed anything and, right now, he kind of neededher.
Where are you?he typed, then waited for the signal to kick in and the message to send.
Break room, just past the children’s section. Having dinner.
Adam retrieved his own dinner from his backpack and walked toward the circulation desk. The cat Puffalump was pacing on top of the New Releases shelf, though he paused to give Adam a narrow look as he passed. If Adam believed in “the creeps,” he was pretty sure he’d have them around the weird cat.
A light glowed from the break room at the back of the library. He knocked briefly on the half-open door and pushed it open to reveal what used to be the house’s kitchen.
A scuffed counter and cabinets lined one wall along with an empty space that might have once held a stove and now contained an old mini-fridge. A faded sofa sat tiredly along one wall.
Like the rest of the library, the kitchen had peeling paint and warped floorboards, but the deterioration was mitigated by a table in the middle of the room, which was covered with a paisley tablecloth and held a cheerful little bouquet of wildflowers and a lit taper candle.
Bee was taking a bottled water out of the fridge, and she turned at the sound of the door opening.
“Oh, good.” She closed the refrigerator door. “I was hoping you’d join me. Have a seat.”
He scratched his head. “This is…unexpected.”
She smiled. “I always like to set the table nicely when I have dinner. It makes the food taste better.”
She pulled out one of the chairs and sat, opening the basket. Adam took the seat across from her and watched in bafflement as she took a china plate, a cloth napkin, and silverware from the basket and arranged it all in front of her.
He suddenly felt like a caveman with his greasy fast-food sandwich and chips.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know we’d be eating together, or I’d have brought you a plate too.” She took a glass and several covered containers from the basket. “Thanks again for tutoring the kids earlier. Peter said you’re really good at it.”
“Glad to help.”
“Would you be interested in hosting a Mad Scientist hour for younger kids?” Bee asked. “Maybe after school tomorrow? We used to hold one every month, but we had to discontinue it. I know you’re super busy, but I’d love to bring it back at least once for pre-Halloween festivities.”
“Sure. What would I have to do?”
“Help guide the kids through experiments like making elephant toothpaste and soda-bottle volcanos, then explain the science behind them.” She shot him a quick smile. “Thanks so much. You’ll be great at theexplainingpart.”
He’d enjoy it, too. He’d always liked seeing other people’s eyes light up when they realized how cool science could be and when they understood thewhybehind chemical reactions and theories.
“I’ll have everything set up for you tomorrow around four.” Bee closed the lid on the basket.
Adam watched as she started opening the containers. She had beautiful hands—long, tapered fingers, perfect nails shaped like crescent moons, a little scratch on her knuckle that he had the sudden urge to kiss. As if he could make it better.
Jerking his gaze from her, he opened the bag and hauled out his loaded sandwich. Bee had a green salad sprinkled with olives, a cup of soup, a stack of miniature sandwiches with the crusts cut off, circular sesame crackers, foil-wrapped wedges of cheese, and a slice of chocolate cake. She arranged the food on and around her china plate with great care.
