Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews (read aloud txt) 📗

renewed his request for additional materials that were in demand by the community. Viv discussed the new books on order. This was an ever-dwindling wish list due to our tight budget. I was excited about our first-ever book swap, another event aimed at increasing engagement and awareness of the library and our resources. The book swap would also serve to help us launch our summer-quarter fundraiser.

“I’ve been promoting our Summer Solstice Book Swap on our social media pages.” I glanced at my notes, highlighting the June twentieth event. “I’m donating some of my gently used books, and of course you’re all welcome to do the same.”

Viv’s expression was dubious. “I’ll see if I find any I can bear to part with. I’ll let the circulation team members and Adrian know about this as well.”

Corrinne gave us an update on her budget proposal meeting with the five-member town council. “The good news is that three of the council members are supportive of our budget requests. For now. The remaining two don’t understand why we need a library when there’s a perfectly good one in the next town over.”

Looking around Corrinne’s conversation table, I wasn’t the only one left gaping at the lack of understanding of the value of libraries.

“Every community needs access to a well-funded library.” I quoted the American Library Association motto: “‘The best reading, for the largest number, at the least cost.’”

Corrinne nodded. “I tried to explain that to them.”

“And of course, the library is about more than borrowing books.” I gestured in the general direction of the circulation area. “There are job search services, educational programs...the list goes on.”

Floyd grunted. “Do you think the three rational members will be infected by those two geniuses?”

“That’s a possibility.” Corrinne stared across her office, seemingly deep in thought.

Viv looked distressed. “What more can we do to persuade them to invest town revenue in the library?”

A glint of determination sharpened Corrinne’s gaze. “We need a show of force. It’s the squeaky wheel that gets oiled. Instead of monthly reports, let’s send the council weekly reports on the number of books borrowed, reference requests, and community engagement events.”

Viv tapped her pen against her notepad on the desk in front of her. “For the sixteenth straight week, we’ve increased our number of library applications. I’ll include that in our weekly report.”

“Excellent. Thank you.” Corrinne looked around the table. “The council meeting is at seven tonight. Are you all attending with me?”

We all nodded, and Viv volunteered that Adrian planned to join us.

“All of the subscription costs for our reference materials have gone up.” Floyd’s voice was tense. “If we don’t get a bigger budget, we’re gonna have to start picking and choosing which ones to keep.”

A distressed hush slumped into the office. No one wanted that.

Corrinne broke the brittle silence. “Those are the stakes we’re facing. So let’s make sure we use those weekly reports to show the council how much this library means to our community and the good we can continue to do.”

That was a plan I could support. In addition to the value the library had to the town, it also was my livelihood. If it closed, I’d be away from my family and without a job.

“We need to find Fiona’s lawyer.” My statement was met with a somewhat startled silence from Spence’s end of the phone line later Wednesday morning. “Hello? Spence, are you there?”

“Hi, Marvey. Are you having a good morning?”

I threw my head back against my cushioned and battered seat. “Why do you make me go through this every time I call you?”

His chuckle was warm and surprisingly playful. “I’m trying to get you accustomed to life in a small town. You need to slow down and enjoy the moment and the people in it.”

I’d gotten this particular lecture from him so often I could’ve delivered it myself, even in my sleep. Little did he know if I couldn’t help Corrinne and the rest of our library team squeeze a bigger budget out of the town council, I could be returning to big-city life.

I glanced at my watch. It wasn’t yet noon, but the morning was sprinting by. “How was your morning, Spence?”

“It’s been a good morning so far, Marvey. Thank you for asking. I’ve already fielded a couple of complaints that our article on the Peach Coast Women’s Auxiliary’s fundraiser for the animal shelter was too short and lacked enthusiasm.”

A startled laugh escaped me. “That’s what constitutes a good morning for you, reader complaints?”

His voice was rich with humor. “I was able to answer some emails and finish my coffee during those calls.”

“Wait a minute.” I frowned as I pictured the article on the auxiliary’s event. “That article was a full page with photos.” As I recalled, the story included several great, full-color photos of the volunteers and animals that benefitted from the fundraiser.

“My mama puts the same couple of ladies up to those complaints every year. One of these years, she’s going to realize those calls don’t make a bit of difference.”

“But this is not that year.” I found his predicament entertaining.

“No, it’s not.” He paused as though listening to my amusement. “Now, wasn’t this better than just rushing into a thing?”

“No, actually, it wasn’t, but I did enjoy your story.”

Spence laughed. “Well, then, we’re just going to have to agree to disagree. So what’s this about Fiona’s lawyer?”

“Do you know who they are?”

“No, I don’t.”

It had been a long shot, but one worth trying. Spence knew almost everyone in town. “Then we’ll need to start with Buddy’s lawyer. He retained Gillis & Sweets, Attorneys at Law.”

He paused. I imagined him enjoying another sip of coffee as we talked. “Now why do we need to speak with Buddy’s lawyer?”

“Buddy’s lawyer may also represent Fiona, or at least know who Fiona’s lawyer is.”

“I assume this is about Fiona’s will?”

“That’s right.”

“Marvey, I can make an appointment for us with the firm, but you do know that no lawyer—Buddy’s or Fiona’s—is going to tell us about her