"A Murder In Milburn", Book 3: Death In The Library (14 page)

“What was it?”

“I cheated!” May cried. “I cheated alright.”

“Ah!”

“But not on Brett! I cheated on my high school exam. I only graduated because I cheated. I don’t know how Selena even knew. But she did. She knew and she teased me about it all the time.”

Nora stared at May, stunned. “What?” she said softly.

“I admit it,” May said. “It’s the kind of thing that could, it could create a huge scandal for Brett if the constituency found out. I was only a child, and math was tough for me. It always has been. I hated it. I cheated off my neighbor in the test. I don’t know how Selena found out.”

“There’s no official record of it,” Nora said. “So there’s only one way Selena could have found out. Someone told her.”

“But who?” May asked. “There’s no one in the world who knows, except me.”

“How about the person whose notes you copied?”

“Oh, her? Cindy something? She left town after high school. She got a scholarship to Harvard and is a professor of Statistics now.”

“So maybe she told someone.”

“I doubt it,” May said. “Cindy was more scared than I was. If she got caught, she’d get thrown out of Harvard. There’s no way she talked.”

“Well, who else knew?”

“Brett did,” May said. “But he wouldn’t talk either. After all, he would be more affected by the scandal than I would.”

Nora didn’t comment. “Coming back to Selena… What time did you leave her?”

“Midnight,” May said. “I left the library at midnight.”

“She was alive and well when you did? What was she doing?”

“She was going through old newspapers,” May said. “I… I wish I hadn’t left her alone the way I did. I was clearly the last person to see her alive.”

“Second last,” Nora said. “You were the second last person to see her alive. The murderer was the last person.”

May shut her eyes, and shook her head. “I can’t bear the thought.”

“Aren’t you ashamed?” Nora asked. “You let an innocent man be framed for this crime. You let the police chase the wrong suspect. All because of a high school test!”

“What are you talking about?” May asked.

“Robert,” Nora said. “Robert didn’t murder her.”

“Well, he must have,” May said. “The police think he did it.”

“May, you just said that you saw him leave. That you talked to Selena after. That Selena was perfectly healthy and normal when you left.”

“Well, she was,” May insisted.

“So Robert couldn’t be the murderer.”

“He must be,” May said. “He must have waited for me to leave before killing her. He must have hidden in the library somewhere.”

“That makes absolutely no sense!” Nora exploded. “What is wrong with you? You’re suggesting that Robert met Selena that night, had a huge fight with her. Keep in mind he didn’t know you were eavesdropping. Then he randomly decided to pretend to leave, hid somewhere, came back and killed Selena?”

“That sounds ridiculous,” May said.

“Because it is ridiculous!”

“But there are so many ways it could have happened,” May said. “He could have found out that I was eavesdropping somehow. He could have been in a rage, gone somewhere, found the letter opener, come back to kill her, seen me, hidden till I left, and then killed her. Or maybe he...”

“Or maybe
you
killed Selena,” Nora said. “That’s seeming more and more likely to me.”

“I didn’t,” May said. “I vow I didn’t!”

“Well, I’d say that the sheriff will be interested in all this,” Nora said. “Why don’t you make your vows to him instead.”

“Oh you can’t tell him!” May cried. “You can’t, Nora, you can’t! I’ll be ruined!”

“Do you think I care?” Nora said. “You’re either the murderer or you’re giving the murderer a chance to escape. Either way, I’m not letting this go unpunished. You and I are going to see the sheriff right now.”

“Please don’t do this,” May pleaded. “All I wanted was that manuscript.”

“Which I don’t have,” Nora said. “The police were here before me. They searched the place already. Sean probably has the manuscript anyway.”

May looked appalled. “You lied about finding it?”

“I’m a good liar.” Nora smiled. “Comes in handy when dealing with murderers.”

*****

Chapter 18

Sean entered the room behind Dr. Neil, his hat tucked under his arm. Grant was still connected to many tubes. The flowers that surrounded his bed were now wilting. He opened his eyes when Sean entered, and took a breath.
 

“Well, Grant,” Dr. Neil smiled. “You’re looking good enough to run a marathon!”

Grant gave a weak smile.

“Grant and I eat breakfast together once in awhile,” Dr. Neil said. “It’s tradition, since we were in the town Arts council together. Isn’t that right, Grant? I’d have felt quite bad if something happened to you.”

“Oh please,” Grant said, some strength returning to his voice. “You’ve longed to hit me on the head many a times.”

“Well, I can’t deny that,” Dr. Neil grinned. “Good to see the blow hasn’t affected your sense of humor.” With a serious look, Dr. Neil said, “I don’t think this town would be the same without you. You’re as much a part of it as the statue on the fountain.”

“And just as ancient, is it?” Grant asked. “You’re the same age as I am, Neil, don’t forget. I’m still young.”

“Oh, I’m about ten years older than you, actually,” Dr. Neil laughed. “You were still in high school when I started practicing. Going out with some pretty girl who saw an Adonis in your pimply face.”

Sean smiled. “I’ve got a few questions I’d like to ask you, Grant, if that’s all right.”

“I’ve got a few questions I’d like to ask myself,” Grant said.

“We’ll do mine first,” Sean said. “What’s the last thing you remember, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Grant frowned. “Robert,” he said. “Robert and Nora. But I’m not sure if that’s a memory or a dream.”

Sean nodded, and wrote it down. “Describe it anyway.”

“I was with them at the library? Then it gets dark.” Grant looked away as he tried to recall. “Something about… something about Robert needing to talk? He kept saying it was urgent. He
had
to meet Nora at the library and I had to open up for him. I was scared, but I was also intrigued. I decided to open up the library against my better judgement.”

“What then?”

“There’s a blank space in my memory after,” Grant said. “I’m trying to remember but for some reason all I can think of is a…” He paused. “All I can think of is Brett?”
 

“Brett Almand?” Sean raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Grant said apologetically. “Of course, that’s probably because I was planning the memorial with May, so I’ve seen Brett around.”

“Probably,” Sean said. “So you don’t remember any of the events that led to you being here?”

“I don’t,” Grant said. “What happened to me? Dr. Neil said a blow to the head… but who? Are Robert and Nora all right?”

“Nora’s fine.” Sean said. “Robert…”

“He’s not dead, is he!” Grant looked alarmed.

“He’s missing,” Sean said. “He’s currently the primary suspect in this assault, as well as Selena’s murder.”

“Always knew he’s a shady fellow,” Grant said. “I feel guilty, Sean. I’m the one who invited him here. If I hadn’t done that… Selena might still be alive.”

“Not your fault,” Sean said. “He was obsessed with her. Whether you’d invited him or not, he’d have found a way to get to her eventually.”

“Still,” Grant said. He gave a shudder. “I can’t imagine working at the library again after everything that’s happened. I just can’t. That library was my home. No one knows it as well as I do. To have… to have two incidents like this happen!”

“Well, unfortunate incidents are a part of life,” Sean said, patting Grant’s leg over the blanket. “You just focus on resting and getting better. We’ll catch Robert soon. The net’s closing in on him. He can’t escape much longer.”

“That’s good.” Grant sighed. “That’s good. Keep looking for him, Sheriff. Don’t give up.”

“I won’t.” Sean opened the door, and Nora jumped aside as he did. He raised an eyebrow.

“Nora Newberry.”

 
“I was just… here to visit Grant,” she said, looking guilty.

“Ah. And you happened to slip and have your ear glued to the door?”

“Sean!”

Sean grinned. “You’re incorrigible, Newberry. You want to talk to Grant?”

“He needs to rest now,” Dr. Neil said, coming out of the room. “He appreciated the flowers you sent in, Nora.”

“I didn’t send any flowers,” Nora said, confused.
 

“No? Harvey delivered two big bunches, one from you and one from himself.”

“Oh.” She felt a blush creep up her cheek. That was incredibly thoughtful of him.

“He’s a nice guy,” Dr. Neil said, looking at her. “Don’t let him slip away.”

Nora smiled, though she didn’t say anything.

Sean rolled his eyes.
 

“What? You don’t like him?” Nora asked.

“I never have,” Sean said. “Harvey treads a little too close to the line dividing legal and illegal, if you ask me. In places where he finds a loophole, he jumps happily over the line too.”

“He’s a businessman,” Nora said. “They have a different view of legality than cops do.”

“Yeah,” Sean said. “I guess I was raised to believe in good and evil. Not everyone was.”

“What’s that about how I was raised, Sean?” Harvey appeared, turning into the corridor.

“Oh.” Sean took a step back. Harvey advanced, his chin raised.

“Sorry,” Sean said. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just meant, I don’t much appreciate men who don’t take the law seriously.”

“You know what I don’t appreciate?” Harvey said. “Men who can’t do their jobs well. Men who let others do it for them.”

Sean’s cheeks flamed. “What’s that mean?”

“I mean if you’re going to make Nora do your work, at least give her some credit,” Harvey said. “Everyone knows who solved Raquel’s murder, and JJ’s. But you’re too busy cuddling Karen to care.”

“Don’t bring Karen into this.”

“Don’t bring up the way I was raised.”

“Harvey, stop it.” Nora stepped between them. “Please. You have to learn how to get along.”

“I didn’t start this,” Harvey said.
 

“But you can end it,” Nora said.

“Sure I can. I can end things. You know what the funny thing is, Nora? I didn’t see you defend me. Isn’t that what a girlfriend is supposed to do? Or did you agree with him?”

“Whoa now,” Sean raised his hands, “I don’t want any part in this fight.”

“Why are you so angry?”

“I met Mrs. Mullally at the market,” Harvey said. “She told me your story about meeting May yesterday. Apparently, you got a fright when you fell asleep at Selena’s house and woke up at night to hear sounds from below.”

“Oh. That. Right.”
 

“Right,” Harvey said. “After everything, after all our arguments, you just went to Selena’s house to snoop first chance you could.”

“I wasn’t snooping, Tina asked me to go there,” Nora said. “ And Sean, wait, there’s something I need to talk to you about. May made me promise to wait one night. She told me she’d speak to you herself. But if she hasn’t… we need to talk.”

“May?” Sean looked confused. “May Almand? That name’s been coming up a lot lately.”

“It has to do with Selena,” Nora said. “Sort of. Robert wasn’t the last person she spoke to that night. May was.”

Harvey gave an angry grunt from next to her. “You’re just never giving up, are you, Nora? What next? Are you planning to start an agency of your own?”

“Harvey, I don’t want to talk about this right now,” Nora said calmly.

“Fine,” Harvey said. “Come to me when you do. I can’t promise you that I’ll be waiting.” With an angry huff, he stalked off.

Sean looked bemused, watching him go. “Well he’s annoyed. Also annoying. But right now, mostly annoyed.”
 

“Stop it, Sean,” Nora said. “Do you have to give him a hard time? You’re Sheriff. It’s your duty to be civil to him, isn’t it?”

“Not at all,” Sean said. “My duty is to arrest him if he strays too far off the line.”

“Stop
talking
about him that way,” Nora said. “Harvey contributes to this town. He brings in employment, he brings in tourists. He helps this town’s economy.”

“Defensive much?” Sean chuckled. “All right, all right. Don’t beat me up for being mean to your boyfriend.”

“I’m serious,” Nora said. “If you say anything about him in front of me again, I’ll stop speaking to you.”

“Ooo.” Sean chuckled again. Then, looking at her face, he sobered. “You’re serious.”

“I sound like a sixteen year old right now, but yes, I am serious,” Nora said. “He’s my man, and I do love him, even if he can... irritate me sometimes.”