Today's Reading
"But I have a weird feeling about Jackie," Lindsey said. "You know, a stalker-like feeling."
Paula sighed. She lifted the end of her braid and adjusted the ribbon on the end. "I do, too, but we could just be overreacting because of prior situations. Here's a thought, let's ask the crafternooners what they think."
"Good idea." Lindsey nodded. "I'm certain they'll be the voice of reason and agree we should warn Helen."
"Or not," Paula countered, giving Lindsey a pointed look.
CHAPTER TWO
BRIAN CREEK PUBLIC LIBRARY
"You have to tell her," Nancy Peyton declared. She was somewhere in her late seventies with short white hair and bright blue eyes. In winter, she favored turtleneck shirts under brightly colored sweatshirts with jeans, all three of which she ironed neatly before wearing.
"No, you can't. The woman didn't make a threat. She's probably just a devoted fan who is overly enthusiastic," Violet LaRue reasoned. She was Nancy's best friend—one was seldom seen without the other— and they very rarely disagreed.
Violet was known for wearing flowing caftans, but with the arrival of colder temperatures, she had opted for a pretty lavender tunic sweater, accentuating her deep brown complexion, over black yoga pants. She wore her silver hair in a bun at the nape of her neck, and her reader glasses hung from a colorful beaded chain around her neck. A former Broadway actress, Violet ran the local community theater with her friend Robbie Vine, another actor and resident of Briar Creek.
"One for and one against," Lindsey said to Paula.
"I'm against and you're for, so that makes it two to two." Paula held up two fingers on each hand. She glanced across the table. "Mary, you haven't voted yet."
Mary was tapping her chin with her index finger as she pondered the situation. "I'm trying to decide what my brother would say and vote for him since whatever you decide will impact him much more than me."
Mary Murphy was Lindsey's sister-in-law as Lindsey had married Mary's brother, Sully, proper name Mike Sullivan, two years prior. Mary had the same bright blue eyes and wavy reddish brown hair as Sully, but where he was a quiet sort, Mary was not.
She ran the Blue Anchor, the only restaurant in the village, with her husband, Ian Murphy, who was also Sully's business partner in their water taxi and tour boat venture. Together they shuttled the inhabitants of the Thumb Islands, an archipelago of one hundred islands, if the big rocks were included, to and from the shore, while also providing tourists a look at the famed islands during the summer touring season.
"Sully would agree with me." Lindsey was fairly confident that he would but only after she talked him into it.
"Would he?" Mary narrowed her eyes at Lindsey. "He cares about you more than anything and would not want you to get yourself into another situation.' "
"I won't," Lindsey protested. "I'm merely informing a person I know that she might have a potential stalker."
"Potential being the operative word," Mary said. "You have no proof that Jackie is a stalker, so I have to say no. Don't get involved."
"Three to two," Paula said.
"What did I miss?" A snowperson dashed into the room. It was Beth. She tossed her cap onto an empty chair and pulled the extra-large T- shirt over her head. "Wait, where's the food?"
"Mayor Cole was detained," Paula said. "But she'll be here shortly."
"With meatball subs?" Beth asked.
"Yes, she confirmed the menu," Mary said.
"All is forgiven." Beth sat on the closest chair at the table. "What are we discussing? The book?"
"We haven't gotten to that yet," Paula said. She then told Beth about Lindsey's dilemma and asked her if she thought Lindsey should tell Helen about Jackie.
"Absolutely." Beth turned to Lindsey. "You have to let her know. What if this Jackie person is dangerous?"
"And now we're three and three," Paula said.
"Three and three what?" Mayor Cole asked as she entered the room pushing one of their book trucks. On top was a silver tray covered in foil and a large plastic bowl with a tossed salad, and on the shelf below were two carafes, one with iced tea and one with lemonade.
The crafternooners all rose from their seats and helped set the food on the table. While the subs and salad were dished out, and the drinks poured, Paula explained the difference of opinion to Mayor Cole.
Eugenia Cole had been Ms. Cole when Lindsey first arrived as the new library director several years ago. Ms. Cole, formerly called "the lemon" among the staff because her personality had been rather puckered, had been an old-school shusher of a librarian. Rules were rules and they were meant to be upheld. Lindsey's more relaxed style had not been a welcome change.
This excerpt ends on page 18 of the hardcover edition.
Monday we begin the book Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jónasson.
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