Part 14 (2/2)

”No, he's feeling fine today,” Jack sent back. ”He's pretty excited, too. Life's been pretty boring for him lately. His immune system is finally back up enough for visitors, though, as long as you're feeling healthy.”

”I am. I pretty much never get sick, but I almost always get a fever before I do. No fever, no sniffles.”

”Okay, good.” There was a moment of silence. ”I'll let you stop Talking now so that you can stop staring quite so intently at your monitor.” Humor laced his tone.

She turned around and glanced up at the balcony, seeing him leaning casually against the railing. He waved and disappeared back out of sight. She nodded to herself and took a circuit around the library, spending the rest of the day focused on her patrons and her job rather than the date-like get-together planned for afterward.

Jack and Jemma walked out to their cars after the library had closed, Jemma carrying a concealed chocolate pie she'd thrown together that morning. It wasn't very difficult to make, but it had always been a hit with those who tried it. She had put the pie tin in a separate, square Tupperware container and covered that with tin foil to thoroughly confuse Jack.

She turned to face her car, s.h.i.+fting the dessert so she could grab the handle. She caught a glimpse of movement in the reflection of her winds.h.i.+eld and spun around in time to see someone disappear around the corner of the library.

”Jack. Someone else is in the parking lot,” she sent. She heard him walking toward her, and she turned back to her car to set down purse and dessert before turning back to where she'd seen the person.

”Someone you recognized?” he sent, glancing at her and then the direction she was indicating.

”Pretty much only saw a leg. Dark slacks, s.h.i.+ny shoes, maybe a hint of a coat.” She rubbed her arm.

”Sounds very cloak and dagger. Do you think it was one of your patrons?”

”I don't know. The person was running, which doesn't necessarily mean anything, but doesn't really fit in, either,” she sent.

”Should we check it out?” he sent.

Jemma shook her head. ”Either we're being paranoid, and investigating isn't really going to change anything, or there's actually been someone every time we've heard something, right? In which case we really should leave it to someone official to investigate.”

He ran a hand through his hair, glancing in that direction once more before sighing silently and nodding. ”Do you just want to ask for another patrol again? Or do you want to stay here until the police arrive?”

”An extra patrol for now. I'll swing by the downtown library tomorrow to see whether I can get a camera installed on that side of the building. We only have one out on the front entrance,” she sent.

”It's a good idea.” Jack turned to face Jemma.

”Maybe should have thought of it after the first couple times I thought something was going on.” She frowned and shook her head, then looked at Jack. ”Why are we standing here in the parking lot when we can Talk from the cars?”

He shrugged. ”You remember where you're going?”

”I'm pretty sure. Easy enough to ask if I forget, though.”

Jack grinned and went to his car, looking back to make sure she'd made it safely into her own.

She moved the pie to the pa.s.senger seat, then sat and locked the door, started the car, and followed Jack out of the parking lot.

The drive was uneventful aside from a tense moment when a car behind her had followed them for a couple turns in a row. When it had finally turned a different direction, Jemma had relaxed, and they made it to Jack's father's house just a few minutes later.

Jemma pulled into the driveway behind Jack. The house was small, two stories, but it looked like the ground floor was probably mostly the two-car garage, the second story set neatly on top of it. It was on a cul-de-sac, with an open lot to the left. Jemma glanced curiously at what had to be Jack's house on the right, almost identical to the one they'd parked in front of.

She pulled out her phone and composed a text to the police.

Non-emergent: suspicious activity at West Branch library at 1800. Branch director requests an extra patrol.

She read it back over, then looked up to see Jack leaning against his car, waiting for her with a grin on his face.

”You get very absorbed, you know,” he sent when he saw her look up. ”It doesn't seem to matter whether you're reading a text or a novel, but you stop seeing anything around you when you read.”

She gave half a shrug and pressed send on the text, quickly getting an automated response.

Non-emergent text received. PPD has recorded the incident and will respond as able.

She looked up from her phone again to see Jack, still smiling.

”Good thing it's safe here,” he sent. ”You coming?”

”Eventually,” she sent along with a wave of amus.e.m.e.nt. She put her phone away, slung her purse over her shoulder, and grabbed her pie before getting out of the car, b.u.mping the door shut behind her.

”Ready?” he sent, his eyes still sparkling.

She nodded, and they went to the door, Jack knocking as they entered, much like Jemma did at her parents' house. Jack paused at the doorway, his eyes glazing over slightly as he presumably checked in with his dad, and then he gestured to Jemma, and they walked up the stairs to what did appear to be the main floor. They walked through a living room and into the dining room, where a man who bore a strong resemblance to Jack sat, beaming in their direction. He stood, slowly but confidently, and walked toward Jack, who met him halfway. They hugged warmly, and then the man turned toward Jemma, reaching to bring her into a hug, too, crooked thanks to the dessert she held.

As he pulled away, she realized it would have been a good time to see whether she could Talk to him, while they were in contact, and made a note to try when she was leaving if she didn't get a chance before then. He walked back to the table and picked up a dry erase board with writing already on it.

Hi, I'm Don. It's a pleasure to meet you.

He winked, and Jemma grinned and nodded, sending a quick message to Jack.

”Your father's more of a flirt than you are.”

Jack sent a wave of amus.e.m.e.nt in response, and then he smiled at Don, took the pie from her hands, and disappeared down the hallway.

”No peeking,” she sent after him.

”I won't,” he returned, matching her tone.

Don erased the board and wrote again.

Jack doesn't bring women home to meet me. You must be pretty special.

Jemma felt her cheeks flush in embarra.s.sment at the compliment and the possible deceit, and she realized she'd probably made it look even more like they were dating by doing so.

”What did you tell him about me? About us?” Jemma sent Jack.

”I told him you were my favorite librarian,” he sent back, ”and that we'd become friends. Is he giving you a hard time?”

”Not really. Just said something that I took as him thinking we were dating, and I wasn't sure.”

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