AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“More or less.”
She regarded me in silence for a moment. I didn’t need telepathy to know she was uncertain whether to believe me. I may have rescued Ashley Pratt, but that didn’t absolve me of the crime of being a newcomer in Fairhaven and, therefore, inherently untrustworthy.
“Have you hired a new officer yet?” I asked, in an effort to change the subject.
“Not yet. I haven’t liked any of the candidates enough to work alongside them every day.”
“An important consideration.”
“I also need someone who can handle the knowledge of our special community.”
Chief Garcia didn’t know the half of it.
“I can see why it’s a struggle to find the right cop.”
She held out her arms and dropped them to her side in a futile gesture. “Until then, I’m swamped.”
“I don’t envy you, Chief.”
She waved a hand at my jungle of a garden. “Right back at you.” She turned to leave. “Don’t forget to call me next time,” she yelled over her shoulder.
“I will. Thanks for stopping by, Chief Garcia.”
“You’re not going to call her, are you?” Nana Pratt asked.
I watched as the chief crossed the bridge toward the gate. “Not a chance.”
CHAPTER4
The library was teeming with wheelchairs and walkers when I arrived. I’d inadvertently stumbled into the senior citizens brigade. The bus outside should’ve been a clue that there was a group visit in progress. I assumed Hailey would be too busy to talk to me and was about to turn around when she intercepted me.
“Lorelei, welcome back!” she said, gripping my arm with a tad too much enthusiasm. Her brown eyes were wide and round, like she’d ingested three espressos in a row and no longer knew how to regulate her body.
“Everything okay, Hailey?”
“Great! I love senior hour. Love it!” She cast a furtive glance around us. “Come on, I’ll show you where to find that book you wanted.”
“But I didn’t…”
Shushing me, she tugged me away from the hustle and bustle to a quiet corner of the library. Once we were safely between two stacks, she peered around the corner.
“Do you think they can see us?” she whispered.
“I doubt it. Most of them are seated or hunched. Why are you hiding from them?”
Hailey whipped back toward me. “I’m not hiding. I just need a break, that’s all. I’m short-staffed today, and it’s the worst possible time to be without help.”
“Worse than toddler hour?”
“Much worse,” she said, in a voice that suggested past traumas. “They love to read, which is great. Amazing. I’m so blessed to be a librarian in a community full of voracious readers.”
“But?” I prompted.
“But they’re also voracious talkers, mainly about their ailments. I don’t want to see anyone else’s fungal infection today. One was quite enough.” She shuddered.
“Well, I’m not here to talk about ailments.”
“Thank goodness. How can I help you?”
