Twelve Angry Librarians

Helen Louise returned to the table in time to hear the last few words. She quirked an eyebrow at me as she efficiently set before us the pâté, bread, and a bottle of the Bergerac. She deftly opened the wine, poured a taste in each glass, and waited. Marisue and Randi each gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up after testing the wine, and Helen Louise poured more.

There was little conversation as my friends and I helped ourselves to the tasty appetizer, along with the freshly made bread. I figured that, at the rate Marisue and Randi were sipping at their wine, we would easily get through a couple of bottles by the end of our meal. I was delighted to see them enjoying themselves so much.

One of Helen Louise’s staff came to clear away the empty plates and gave us another bread basket. Marisue topped off our glasses with the rest of the wine, and I asked the server, Henry, for another bottle. Henry nodded and smiled pleasantly at my guests.

“He’s adorable,” Randi said after Henry walked away. “Young enough to be my son, but adorable nevertheless.” She sighed.

“They’re all old enough to be our children these days.” Marisue’s tart tone amused me.

“No harm in looking,” Randi said.

“No,” Marisue replied. “Just don’t try to sample.”

Randi giggled at that, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

Soon Henry came back with our main course, the braised chicken with tomatoes and olives. He also set a saucer of boiled chicken down by my plate. “Diesel’s treat,” I explained to my friends.

While we savored the delicious dish, we avoided talk of Gavin Fong. I figured that the subject would come up over coffee and dessert. Near the end of the meal, however, Randi glanced across the room toward the door. She stiffened for a moment, then poked Marisue’s arm.

“Look who just walked in,” Randi said.

Harlan Crais stepped toward the counter, and Marisue and Randi exchanged glances.

Marisue leaned toward me and said in an undertone, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns out to be Gavin’s killer.”

FOURTEEN

“What do you know about him?” I hadn’t realized my two friends were acquainted with Harlan Crais.

Marisue’s gaze slid sideways toward Randi. “Better ask her. She knows much more about him than I do.”

To my surprise, Randi’s face reddened, and she shot Marisue an angry look. “I wish you’d forget I ever told you about that.”

“About what?” I felt a paw on my thigh. Diesel stared at me and meowed to let me know he was still near starvation. I showed him the empty saucer that had earlier held his boiled chicken. “You’ve eaten it all.” He meowed again. “No, that’s all.” He stared at me another moment, then stretched out by my chair.

I found my dinner companions regarding me with amusement. “Sorry,” I muttered. “Now, what is all this about Randi and Harlan Crais?” I watched the object of our curiosity at the counter. He paid, received a bag, and then exited the bistro while we discussed him.

Randi grimaced in the direction of the man’s departing back. “I might as well tell you, Charlie, because Miss Louella Parsons over here will. I had a brief fling with him when we worked together in Colorado.”

“Was that at the same time you worked with Gavin?” I asked.

Randi nodded. “Yes, and he found out about it and made a bit of a stink with our boss, the dean of libraries.”

“Harlan was married at the time,” Marisue said.

“I didn’t know that, you understand.” Randi glared at Marisue, then switched her focus to me. “I was new, you see, and on the rebound from a relationship that ended when I decided to move to Colorado. Harlan was hired at the same time, and he hadn’t told anybody about Mrs. Crais. Especially not me,” she added in a bitter tone.

“Gavin was jealous,” Randi continued. “For some reason, he decided I was exactly what he wanted, and he bugged the crap out of me. I couldn’t stand him, but I tried to be polite about it. Then, when the thing with Harlan started, Gavin really got unpleasant.”

“Sorry you had to go through that. I know it must have been awkward working with the two of them,” I said. “What about Crais and Gavin, though? I can see why Gavin was angry with Crais, but why did Crais hate Gavin so much Marisue thinks he could have killed him?”

“That came later,” Marisue said. “This is where my part of the tale comes in.” She had a sip of wine. “Mercy, this is delicious. Well, fast-forward about three years, and I was in Kansas. Gavin was hired as head of public services—a position that I applied for, mind you, but got passed over for, but that’s another sorry tale. So, Gavin was there about three months when our associate dean for technical services retired. Harlan applied for the position, and he actually interviewed for it. I thought he would have been the better choice of the two who interviewed, but somehow Gavin managed to convince the dean that Harlan wasn’t suitable.”