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

against the counter beside her. “How are the phone calls to the council members going?”

“How did you know I’d been on the phone with them?” She held the carafe aloft in a silent offer of coffee service.

I gratefully accepted. “Your office door has been closed all morning, and we’re running out of time to persuade them to support our budget increase.”

Corrinne shook her head. Her features were tight with frustration. “I left a message for three of the council members. The other two wouldn’t commit either way.”

I grabbed a creamer and three sugar packets. “What additional information do they need to make a decision?”

Corrinne replaced the carafe. She was cool and professional in a pale yellow skirt suit and tan stilettos. Her voice was controlled, belying the irritation snapping in her grass-green eyes. “I have no idea, and neither do they. We’ve given them a list of the events we’ve hosted in the past fiscal year, as well as the attendance, information on our monthly visitors, and the increase in our library cardholders. What else could they possibly need to know?”

“Maybe we’re not the ones they need to hear from.” I contemplated my coffee as I stirred in the sugar and creamer.

“What do you mean?” She shifted to face me.

“I think it’s time they heard from the voters. We need to encourage our patrons to call the council to show their support for the library.”

“That’s a great idea.” Corrinne sighed. “But how do we get them to do that?”

“We ask. I’ll put together signage we could post around the library and fliers to distribute to patrons from the circulation desk.” My mind raced with additional ideas, including a special-notice e-newsletter and an announcement in the newspaper.

“I’ll leave that effort in your capable hands then. Thank you, Marvey.” Corrinne gestured toward the library’s main area. “How’s the investigation progressing?”

“I don’t feel as though I’m getting anywhere.” I swallowed a sip of coffee and a sigh. “There are several people who seem to have much stronger motives than Jo. They had the same opportunity to attack Fiona that Jo had, but I can’t persuade the deputies to even consider them as viable suspects. For some reason, they’re just fixated on her.”

Corrinne nodded. “She represents the easiest suspect. For that reason, the deputies aren’t interested in investing time, effort, or resources looking into anyone else.”

“That’s what makes this all the more frustrating and frightening.” I caught her eyes. “I want to thank you.”

Her perfectly shaped eyebrows knitted. “For what?”

“For defending me to Mayor Flowers last night when he asked you to stop me from making inquiries into Fiona’s murder. Instead of listening to him, you supported me. That meant a lot. Thank you.”

Corrinne waved a hand dismissively. “There are no thanks necessary. Byron can be utterly clueless.”

Again I wondered at the apparent shared history between my boss and “Byron.” “The mayor’s not the only person who objects to my interest in Fiona’s murder, though.” That was an understatement. “Why are you supporting it?”

Corrinne seemed deep in thought as she drank her coffee. She was silent for several moments before finally giving me an answer. “Since you’ve been here, the team is reengaged. I don’t know whether that’s entirely because of the investigation, but it hasn’t hurt. In a way, your work to clear Jo’s name has also helped strengthen the library’s connection with the community.”

“I’m glad you think so.” I didn’t know if that was accurate, but she’d been in Peach Coast since before the library’s inception. That would give her a better perspective.

“Not everyone in Peach Coast sees the value of a local library.”

“That still amazes me.”

“Me too.” Corrinne shook her head and went back into her thoughts for a moment. “To convince the naysayers that yes, there is value in Peach Coast having its own library, we have to raise our library’s profile. We have to give the library a presence in the community. That’s why I hired you.”

Getting this opportunity was like a dream come true. “I’m enjoying the work I’m doing.”

“It shows. Even though you didn’t join our team until February, well into the first quarter, you exceeded my first-quarter expectations. And you’re on track to exceed my second-quarter expectations. Perhaps I should set higher expectations.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

She flashed a pearly white grin. “In the four months you’ve been with us, in addition to the increased foot traffic and cardholders, our team has more energy and enthusiasm. I believe there’s more to that than the peach cobbler you’ve brought Floyd on a daily basis.”

My face heated with embarrassment from her praise. “I don’t think you can attribute all of that to me. You’ve put together a dedicated team, and you provide great leadership.”

Corrinne was shaking her head even as I spoke. “Before you arrived, I was terrified the mayor and the town council would shut the library.”

I gasped. “No.”

“Yes.” She nodded emphatically. “I’ve had too many sleepless nights over that to count. The library’s closing would’ve been devastating not just to our team but to our town.”

“I know. The nearest library to Peach Coast is twenty point eight miles away.”

Her eyes clouded. “Because of you, I have hope our library will continue to thrive. For that reason, I should be the one thanking you.”

“I’m grateful for everything you’re doing as well.”

“Just be as careful and discreet as possible. Don’t lose sight of the fact you’re investigating a murder. I don’t want you to get into danger.” Corrinne squeezed my forearm before disappearing beyond the breakroom.

She’d left me speechless. Her kind words and support had overwhelmed me. But thinking back to her warning for my safety, I recalled the person creeping around my home early yesterday morning, and my chair, which had been tampered with yesterday afternoon. She didn’t want me to get into danger?

Too late.

“You’re early.” I greeted Spence with a pleased smile as I hurried to meet him in the library parking lot late Thursday morning. Although I was five minutes early, he’d