Jenn McKinlay - Due Or Die

After hauling twenty-five boxes of books from the old shed to the new one, Lindsey felt like the hot chocolate was the only thing that might bring back the feeling in her toes. She trotted into the office and filled a foam cup before heading back out into the cold.

They’d been here for a couple of hours now. Carrie had picked up her and Beth after work, and she’d brought Heathcliff with her because he had been cooped up all day and needed the exercise. He had been overjoyed to see Lindsey and had been chasing the snowballs that Lindsey and the others threw for him for the past half hour.

Lindsey stamped her feet on the ground. It was a great turnout and the work was going quickly. There had to be at least fifteen people here, including both Edmund and Bill Sint. Mercifully, there was no sign of Marjorie Bilson.

A car turned into the small parking lot, its headlights sweeping over the area. Then again, maybe Marjorie had decided to show after all. Lindsey stood up straighter, bracing herself for a possible confrontation.

Before the car had even stopped, the passenger door flew open and out jumped a young woman. She had long, dark hair and was yanking on her winter coat as her eyes scanned the people in front of her.

“Mom!” she cried.

BRIAR CREEK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Carrie popped out of the new shed and cried, “Kim! Kyle!” Then she broke into a run.

The driver shut off the car and got out, too. He was a tall young man with the same dark hair as his mother and his sister. In fact, the three of them had the exact same face, with big brown eyes, delicate noses and strong jaws.

Carrie opened her arms wide as she ran, and the three of them tumbled into a group hug in the middle of the parking lot. Lindsey turned away to give them some privacy.

“Her kids?” Beth asked as she joined Lindsey.

“I’m assuming.”

“Good. She could use the support.”

It was several minutes later when Carrie brought her grown children over to meet Lindsey and the others.

“Kyle, Kim, this is Lindsey Norris, the director of the library, and Beth Stanley you already know.”

“I remember the parties you used to throw for the teens every time a new Harry Potter book came out,” Kim said.

“And I remember that you did the best artwork for my programs,” Beth said and gave the girl a hug. “I still have some of those posters. How are you enjoying RISD?”

“I love it,” she said.

“Welcome to Briar Creek,” Kyle said to Lindsey and extended his hand.

Lindsey took his gloved hand in hers. He had a good handshake.

“Thank you. It’s a lovely town,” she said. She paused and then added, “I’m very sorry for your loss.” She turned to include Kim in her condolences.

“I’m sorry, too,” Beth said.

Both Kim and Kyle nodded, and Lindsey realized they probably weren’t used to talking about it. It had taken them a few days to get here. And now that they were in their hometown, it must be surreal to confront their father’s shooting.

Kim shivered and Carrie frowned, looking full of motherly concern.

“Listen,” she said. “I’m staying at Nancy Peyton’s place, and she said you two could stay with me. She has enough room so long as you two don’t mind bunk beds. Honestly, I haven’t been able to face going back to the house yet.”

Kyle put his hand on his mother’s shoulder. “We’ll do it together, Mom, when you’re ready.”

Carrie blew out a breath. For the first time in days, she had some color in her cheeks. Having her children here was a real boon for her. Lindsey was glad. She shouldn’t have to bear all of this alone.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I need to go,” Owen Pullman said. “I have an appointment I have to keep.”

“No problem,” Mimi Seitler said. She joined their group and handed a hot chocolate to Kim and another to Kyle. “Finish this up for me, will you?”

They both said thank you, looking grateful for the hot beverage.

“We’re pretty much done,” Mimi said. “Can I dismiss the troops, Carrie?”

“Absolutely,” Carrie said. “And thanks for your help.”

“Anytime.” Mimi lifted the empty pot of chocolate and carried it to her car.

“If it’s okay, we’ll just finish up and lock up after we leave?” Carrie asked Owen. “We just have a few more boxes to move.”

Owen scratched his bald head. “I don’t see why not. Just latch the gate once you get all of your cars out of here.”

“We will,” Carrie said. “Okay, you two, head over to Nancy’s. Kyle, I might need your help running an inventory of the boxes. There should be a couple of boxes of rare books, but I haven’t had time to look for them.”

“I’ll be happy to help,” he said. “We can make a sweet Excel file that will allow you to tabulate the value of each item.”

Carrie raised her eyebrows. “Now that would be handy.” She gave her kids each a kiss on the cheek and said, “I’ll see you at Nancy’s.”

“Are you sure-” Kyle began, but Carrie cut him off.

“I’ll just be a few minutes. Go before you freeze.”

With one more hug, Kyle and Kim got into their car and headed over to Nancy’s house.

“I’m going to thank everyone for coming,” Carrie said. “Then we can lock up the new shed and I’ll give you and Beth a ride home.”

“Sounds good,” Lindsey said. “Good job, President.”

“Thanks.” Carrie smiled.

Lindsey watched as Carrie gathered them all together. The group seemed pleased with what they had done. Even Bill had pitched in, and his usually fastidious attire sported dust streaks. It made him seem infinitely less insufferable.

Lindsey wandered down to the old shed. It was essentially a steel room about ten feet high and twenty feet deep and fourteen wide. She glanced up to examine the ceiling. It had been blown wide open. Several sheds on either side had sustained some damage as well, but this one had gotten the worst of it.

When she had spoken to Owen earlier, he had theorized that the hurricane-force winds had found a loose metal panel and ripped it open, dragging the ones around it with it.

But Lindsey remembered what Sully had told her and she had to agree. This didn’t look nature-made.

“That storm was really something, wasn’t it?”

Lindsey turned to find Edmund Sint standing beside her, surveying the damage.

“It sure was,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as I was when the lights came back on.”

“Yeah, I have to agree. Those were two of the longest days of my life.”

“I suppose we should be glad the damage wasn’t worse,” she said. “Then again, if the storm didn’t cause this…”

Edmund turned to study her. “You don’t think the storm did this? Really?”

“Someone mentioned to me that it could actually have been a break-in,” she said.

“For books?” he asked and then he laughed. “I love a good read as much as the next guy, but that’s extreme.”

He made a comical face and Lindsey had to laugh. He was right. Even if this had been done on purpose, surely the person hadn’t been trying to break into the Friends’ vault. No one even really knew what was in it. There was no inventory. Who would risk it in the middle of a storm, not knowing what they would be getting?

“You’re right,” she said. “That would be crazy.”

Heathcliff pranced up on his big feet, and Edmund squatted down and made a snowball for him. He threw it way out into the drifts and Heathcliff took off after it. As the only light available was coming from the large bank of lights Owen used for security, Lindsey marveled that the puppy could find the snowballs he chased after.