Part 17 (1/2)

”Right.” She gave me a calculating look that warned me to be careful and not do anything stupid to jeopardize this case. ”Well, if you're done with your lecture, I'd like you to meet a new friend of mine.”

I looked around but didn't see anyone. ”Where is she?”

”Inside, buying the outfit I picked out for her. She's my new protegee. At least someone welcomes the advice I give them.” My mother sniffed sharply.

A woman exited the shop and came to a stop beside my mother. ”Thank you so much for all your help. It's nice to finally meet a friendly face around this town. I swear everyone thinks I'm the devil.”

”I know exactly how you feel,” I said, glad to know the Mad Hatters had taken the focus off of me.

”It was my pleasure, dear,” my mother said and then swept her hand in my direction. ”This is my daughter, Sylvia Meadows.” She turned to me. ”Darling, this is the new manager of the library, Holly Smith.”

”It's Sunny,” I corrected, and held out my hand.

Holly shook it, her handshake firm and tough, nothing at all like her average, slightly mousy appearance. Her sharp eyes met mine, and I swear a warning of Back off was very clearly written in them. Then they changed so quickly, I questioned if I had imagined it. Either I needed gla.s.ses, or there was more to this woman than met the eye.

Last I checked my vision was twenty-twenty.

15.

”It was great meeting you, Sunny,” Ms. Smith said as though she hadn't just given me the look. ”And again, thank you for the help, Mrs. Meadows, but I really must be going. My s.h.i.+ft at the library starts at five.” She waved and then walked off.

”What a nice girl,” my mother said.

”Hmmm, she seems nice enough, but she's hardly a girl, Mother,” I said. I couldn't get that look out of my head. I knew I hadn't imagined it, but I didn't know what it meant, either. ”I have to go, too,” I said, needing time to figure out what to do.

”But we're not finished. What could possibly be more pressing than spending time with your mother?”

”I, um, have to meet with Detective Stone to go over the case.”

”Oh, well then, by all means get going. We need something to break in this case soon.” My mother looked worried, like the kind of worry I see on the faces of the people whose tea leaves I read after I tell them I see a pistol. A pistol represents disaster, and right about now disaster pretty much summed up my life. My mother never looked worried. That was not a good sign.

I gave her a quick hug and air kiss, and then I drove home in my rental car. It was almost four o'clock. I had to hurry if I was going to get to the library before Holly Smith. Maybe she was hiding something in the office. But how was I going to sneak in with Carolyn Hanes around?

I let myself into the house, tossed my bag on the kitchen counter, and then hit the message b.u.t.ton on my answering machine.

”Hey, Tink, where are you?” A pause filled the line, and then Mitch's smooth, deep b.u.t.tery voice continued, ”We need to talk. Call me.”

Morty rounded the corner and hissed.

”Oh, so now he wants to talk. Ha!” I said to Morty, feeling like hissing myself. ”Too little, too late. I have plans.” I looked at Morty and sighed. ”I just haven't figured them out yet.”

Morty stared at me for a full minute, and I couldn't look away. If I didn't know better, I'd swear he could hear my thoughts. He meowed and then headed for the stairs. When I didn't follow, he ran back, rubbed up against me, and meowed again. Louder this time. Then headed for the stairs once more.

I needed to change my clothes, anyway, so I followed. When I reached my bedroom, Morty was sitting on my mattress. I eyed him curiously. ”What are you up to, boy?”

His nose wrinkled, and it seriously looked like the corners of his mouth tipped up. Then he stepped to the side, revealing a teddy bear behind him.

My jaw fell open. ”Where did you get that?” I sputtered.

When I was little, my mom had a nanny cam that looked just like this. She used to watch my babysitters to make sure they weren't behaving badly. When I grew older, she still had a nanny cam to keep her eye on me. I hadn't seen a teddy bear like this in years. It couldn't be the same one . . . could it?

”How on earth did you get this?” I asked, gaping at Morty.

He sauntered off as if to say, You simple, simple girl.

My grin came slow and sweet. I didn't understand how it had happened, but I didn't really care, either. This nanny cam was the perfect solution to my problem.

I changed my clothes, putting on a flowy skirt and soft sweater, and then I grabbed the bear. Once downstairs, I stuffed it inside my bag and glanced around. ”Thanks, Morty, wherever you are.” The little stinker was as elusive as ever, his food and water still untouched. I shook my head and headed out the door.

Ten minutes later I was parking my rental car at the library. I glanced at my watch. Only thirty minutes until Holly Smith showed up. I had to work fast.

Locking up my car, I headed inside right to the circulation desk. ”Excuse me,” I said to the woman behind the counter.

”Yes?”

”Do you know where Miss Hanes is?”

”In the office in back.”

”Thanks.” I headed in that direction and knocked on the closed door.

The door opened, and Carolyn stared at me in surprise and then wariness. ”Ms. Meadows?” She looked beyond me as though looking for Detective Stone. ”Are you alone?”

”Oh yes.” I waved my hand. ”This is an unofficial visit. I have a request that might sound strange, but I was hoping you could accommodate me. You know, just between you and me. Detective Stone will never have to know.”

”It's not anything unsavory, is it?”

”Oh, heavens, no.” I held my hand to my chest. ”It's just I feel so bad about what happened to Ms. Robbins. When she came to me for her reading, she mentioned how much she loved teddy bears.” I had no clue if she really did like teddy bears or not, but I was winging it. ”Anyway, I thought it would be a nice tribute if I could keep this teddy bear in here in her honor.”

”Well, I don't see why not. I had no idea she was so fond of teddy bears, but that's very kind of you.”

”Do you mind if I have a moment alone?” I forced my voice to hitch and my eyes to water. ”I just want to say I'm so sorry for what happened to her and say good-bye.”

”I guess that would be okay. But only a minute. This office is for personnel only.” She slipped out the door, and I got to work.

I reached inside the bear and turned the camera on. Then I climbed on the office chair and placed the bear on top of the bookshelf. The eyes stared right down at the desk.

Perfect.

I hopped down as Carolyn Hanes came back in. I dabbed my eyes, thanked her, and left. Mission accomplished. Just before I reached the door, I ran into Holly Smith.

She stopped short and blinked when she saw me. ”Miss Meadows?”

”Ah, Miss Smith. So nice to see you again. I stopped in for a book, but you don't have it, so I'll be on my way.” I tried to step around her.

”What's the t.i.tle?” She blocked my path. ”I'll see if we can order it.”