Month: December 2018

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 10 of 16.

Once inside, Marnie caught Tessa up on everything that happened since Christmas and New Year’s, after getting Tessa’s kids off to bed. Marnie talked about the slow struggle to get Zane to even notice her, followed by Owen in the Legal department’s attempt to take advantage of her around Valentine’s Day, to the drama of trying to learn more about the mystery of their mother and not only meeting Blake but learning that Owen had connections to the Royale family, up to the murder investigation at the library.

“That’s why I never came over to tell you anything before now,” Marnie said. “You’re so happy with Brandyn Yorke now, once we got Clif out of your life for good. I didn’t want to wreck that.”

“Oh, Marnie, I’m glad you care. And I’m not sure I deserve it, after the way I tried to act so much better than you, feeling you got all of Mom and Dad’s attention before they died in the cruise accident. My kids missed out on being with their Aunt because I was so selfish. Please, feel you can come to me at any time.”

Marnie watched as Tessa reached for her hand.

“We need to be there for each other now, more than ever.”

Marnie took her hand and held it tight.

“I just hope I did the right thing, telling the police what I overheard. I’m concerned it makes this Colby kid look guilty when he probably only stood up for his boss. He seemed nice enough, just a college age kid trying to work through school maybe.”

Tessa’s limply let go of Marnie’s hand.

“Did you say Colby?”

“Yes, like the cheese. Why?”

“Describe him to me.”

Marnie did so, and then watched Tessa pound a fist into her chair.

“These damn Royales? Can’t I ever get rid of them?”

Marnie slowly got up.

“See, Tessa, this is why I didn’t want to come to you before now. I didn’t want to upset you.”

Tessa quickly stood up and put a hand on Marnie’s shoulder.

“No, I’m glad that you did. Because if this Colby is who I think he might be, you could be in danger if he realizes you gave his name to the cops. He’s a Royale, Marnie, even if not by name. Clif’s father Hampton had two sons. Clif was the older one by a few years, and his mother was Hampton’s wife. As you know, he came down with an illness and needed regular care. He had an affair with one of his care nurses, and from that union Colby was born. Hampton named the boy in his will and set aside money for him when he was of age, but Clif saw to it that things were legally manipulated so that Colby never saw the money.”

“Why haven’t I heard of this before?”

“Colby only turned eighteen this summer. That’s when I found out about what Clif did. It was one of the things that already had our marriage headed for the rocks before what happened this past Christmas. I beg you, Marnie, be careful whatever you do next. I want you to stay safe so I can invite all your friends to dinner and meet them.”

Marnie laughed nervously.

“Are you serious?”

“About Colby, the dinner, all of it. Just stay safe and keep your guard up until this mystery is solved.”

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 9 of 16.

Marnie called Zane’s cell phone number, the only one she had for him thanks to Sophia. It just kept ringing and ringing. Marnie told herself that he might perhaps be busy. She wished that she had an e-mail, or even a home telephone number, but she’d never been brave enough to ask for anything like that.

Now she wondered if he’d ever speak to her again.

Marnie knew she could research on the Internet and possibly find an alternate means to contact him, but she didn’t want to cross those lines. That only guaranteed she’d never speak to Zane again. Her getting one number for him from Sophia, that wasn’t too bad, and since they all knew each other somewhat acceptable. Better to leave it at that.

Far better than Blake, her new-found cousin who got to know her all of several days and then calls her up to join him for a social gathering where a murder takes place. That almost seemed just too convenient.

Marnie decided she’d ask her sister Tessa for advice. The two of them hadn’t spoken for years until situations brought them together last Christmas upon finding out that Tessa’s husband wasn’t everything he seemed. Also tiring of reliance on phones, Marnie decided to swing by her house unannounced.

Later that evening, at Tessa’s house, Marnie rang the door and Tessa answered.

“Marnie! Are you ok? You didn’t call first.”

“Tessa, I know I haven’t been one to ask you for advice much in the past. Now Mom and Dad are gone, and I really need your help. A lot of things seem to be going on around me that I don’t understand.”

Tessa didn’t hide her surprise.

“I was so glad when you spent the Christmas season with our family at the end of last year, and that you agreed to babysit my children so Brandyn could take me away for a breather after the drama my now ex-husband Clif left in his wake. But I thought for the rest of the things in your life, you turned to your friend Sophia.”

“I had been, but right now even she’s caught up in the things going on. Can I come in and talk to you? Please?”

Marnie legitimately feared that Tessa might send her away, finding dealing with her sister’s issues too much to cope with after all she’d faced.

Tessa held the door open wider.

“Of course you can. After all, we’re family, Marine. Even if sometimes I’ve forgotten that. I owe you a lot for helping me remember.”

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 8 of 16.

“For now, please let us stick with my client’s perspective,” Marnie heard the attorney told the police detective.

Then she turned to Marnie.

“Do at least answer his question, since you’ve mentioned the name.”

“Yes, Zane is one of my friends,” Marnie confirmed. “And we both heard the same thing. Basically the guy behind the counter – I think his name tag said Barto – told the other guy to go away. The other guy suggested they might do better working together, and suggested Suzette wasn’t flexible to change. Barto demanded the other guy leave and don’t come back.”

“Uh huh. Did you catch the other guy’s name?”

“I think I heard it, but I don’t remember for sure. I think it might have been the name of some kind of cheese. Oh yes, it was. Colby was the name he said. I’m pretty sure.”

“Other witnesses have mentioned someone named Holly. Does that name mean anything to you?”

“Not really, I only met her briefly when Zane and I went back to where Blake was. I guess she like painted the place or something, The reading started soon after. I didn’t really get to find out much about her.”

Marnie took great pains to avoid Sophia’s name, as she didn’t begin to understand the connections explained between Sophia and Holly.  There wasn’t any reason to mention Sophia at this point, anyway.

The detective asked a couple more things, but Marnie didn’t know about any of them. She also wanted to know who was murdered, but the police didn’t seem to want to reveal that info to her for fear it would jeopardize the case. Then the police detective thanked Marnie for her time, and she and attorney Karleen Graf left together.

“Thank you for coming today,” Marnie told Karleen. “I’ve just been through a lot in such a short time. While I’m not involved in whatever happened, I’ve just been through so much. That’s probably why Mr. Trenton didn’t want me to go in feeling alone. He really feels he owes me for helping his daughter and reuniting his family.”

“Mr. Trenton is a good man to have on your side,” Karleen reassured her. “Let me know if you need my assistance again.”

Marnie headed home, hoping this would all be the end of it and the police could find who murdered whoever met their end after the reading the night before. She so desired to go on again with something resembling a normal life.

However, one unanswered question remained. Why did Blake give her name and number to the police to begin with?

Once she got home, Marnie dialed Blake.

“Marnie?” Blake said. “Glad to hear from you again so soon.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning on it until I got a call from the police. Apparently there was a murder in the area around the cafe last night, and the police got my name and number from you, or at least that’s what they claim.”

“Listen, Marnie, after everything we went through when we first met, I felt it was in everyone’s best interest to clear things up with the police sooner rather than later. I just wanted out of all this and the ability to go on with a normal life.”

“And you think I didn’t? Look, did you even get a lawyer before you talked to the police?”

“I didn’t see a need. Better to be out of trouble as quick as possible.”

“Given you’re a close friend of Suzette, and you invited the rest of us, you probably needed a lawyer more than I did.”

“You got a lawyer?”

Marnie could hear complete surprise in Blake’s voice.

“I couldn’t be careful enough, even though I had nothing to do with it. And now they’ll be questioning Zane too, just when I finally thought we’d made a good step forward. Just a few days ago I was so glad to have found a cousin and so looked forward to introducing you to my sister Tessa and her family Now I’m starting to wish I never found you!”

Marnie angrily hung up her phone, then collapsed into the couch, sinking into the cushions. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Every time she felt that her life finally found steadiness to head in a new direction, something else knocked the trajectory off course.

Sophia and Marnie already saw a lot together, so she wasn’t worried as to where the two of them stood. Now she had to see how much damage might have been done to her budding relationship with Zane.

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 7  of 16.

“Am I a suspect?” Marnie asked nervously.

“Not at this time. We just need your help, to see if you know anything that might help us solve this.”

Marnie agreed to come to the police station and meet with them. Immediately afterwards, she called her boss, Frankfurt Trenton, head of the medical device company where she worked in finance. She explained the situation to him.

“You absolutely must not go down without a lawyer,” Mr. Trenton insisted. “I shall make sure to connect you with one of my good friends to assist you. You have been through much in such a short time, young lady.”

Marnie knew that Mr. Trenton felt gratitude toward her for saving his daughter the prior Christmas – who also happened to be her cousin Blake’s on again/off again love interest – but also a bit of guilt for what Owen from the company’s own legal department had done in Marnie’s life not all that long ago. She decided to take him up on his offer.

So Marnie and attorney Karleen Graf arrived at the police station, prepared to learn what had taken place and why they wanted to talk to her. She’d expected to meet Donoven Raley, but instead found herself dealing with his partner, Detective Ralph Mynor.

“Did you know Suzette Deniel prior to last evening?” the police detective asked her.

“No. I’d been invited by my cousin Blake to meet her, and was also encouraged to bring friends. Apparently, the poetry reading is one of the biggest events at Suzette’s store, from what he told me.”

“Who were these friends?”

Marnie looked over at the attorney, wondering if she should give Zane and Sophia’s names to the police.

“May we please focus on my client first,” Karleen Graf told the officer. “Then we can see if additional details on the others are necessary.”

The police officer looked disgruntled but did not object.

“Did you witness anything suspicious while attending the poetry reading?”

“I don’t know if I’d call it suspicious, but I did see a couple examples of how Suzette does not get along with the bookstore next door. The woman who owns the bookstore next door came over asking to sell books at the reading, it sounded like she’d asked before, but Suzette has gotten tired of her asking. And one of the bookstore workers came in on his break to order a coffee, but wound up exchanging words with the guy making the coffee.”

This got the police detective’s attention.

“How did you happen to observe this?”

“Zane and I were behind him in line.”

“And who is this Zane? One of your friends?”

Marnie looked over at the attorney, who she knew had tried to avoid having her bring up the others one time before. She wondered what to do next.

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 6  of 16.

Both of them took their lattes and returned to join Blake and Sophia, who chatted away at a table near the stage. With them was another woman who spoke energetically with both.

“Another friend of yours, Sophia?” Marnie heard Zane ask. She was glad he asked first, she wondered but didn’t want to be too nosy.

“Holly and I have connections, you could say that. Holly, these are my friends Zane and Marnie. Marnie is Blake’s cousin.”

Holly pointed out the walls of the cafe.

“I did all the painting and design here. Suzette’s always been such a great supporter of the arts.”

“How do you know Sophia?” Marnie asked.

Holly looked nervously at Sophia.

“Don’t worry, they know everything,” Sophia told Holly then turned to Marnie and Zane. “Holly has four daughters who are half-sisters to my daughter with Early Manley.”

“Good to meet you,” Marnie said, not sure what else to say. If and when Sophia wanted her to know more, she would.

“Do you usually come to this event?” Zane asked Holly. “What’s it like?”

“Actually, I wasn’t even here for the reading,” Holly admitted. “I did some touch-up work here recently and came by to see if I could get my payment from Suzette. She’s behind on her invoice. However, apparently this event is the only thing on her mind. I can’t even get a clear answer on when she intends to pay me. So frustrating! Truthfully, I would have left by now if I hadn’t seen Sophia here.”

Blake pointed to the stage.

“Ssh! Looks like they’re starting!”

Marnie loved the wide variety of poets and poetry they heard. Some poems evoked joy, others sadness, but all the readers proved to be top notch. Marnie wondered how Suzette vetted the presenters, but she’d ask Blake another day. For now, she’d just enjoy the evening. Even Zane appeared to be into it.

At the end of the evening, they made sure to stay behind and meet each of the poets in person. Soon, though, they all started to head home as each had work the next day.

“Thank you for coming,” Marnie told Zane right before they headed to their respective cars.

“Glad to,” Zane told her. “I really had fun. Thank you for inviting me.”

The next morning, Marnie was awakened early next morning not by the alarm, but the phone. In her half-awake state from very good dreams, she assumed it was Zane and scrambled for the phone.

“Zane?” Marnie said, groggily.

“No, ma’am. This is Detective Donovan Raley. We got your name and number from a man named  Blake – who claims to be your cousin – who said he invited and several of your friends to a poetry reading last night.”

Marnie worked to quickly gather her thoughts.

“Is everything all right?” she asked.

“There’s been a murder,” Detective Raley told her. “And I am hoping you can help.”

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 5  of 16.

‘You both made it!” Marnie exclaimed. Then, she realized they both came in together. “Did you carpool?”

Sophia laughed.

“No, I found Zane outside a little lost so I showed him the way since I’ve been here before.”

Zane waved at Marnie, and saw he looked a bit embarrassed.

“You want to get some coffee before they start?” Marnie suggested to him, remembering what he said on the phone.

“Sure,” he said with a smile.

Sophia gently pushed Marnie forward and whispered in her ear.

“Go for it, girl!”

Marnie tried not to let her own embarrassment show as she walked with Zane towards the coffee bar. As they approached, could hear the customer at the bar exchanging words with the person making his coffee. Both of them had a very similar build, but the one behind the counter looked athletically trained, while the other likely came of his build more genetically. The customer also wore glasses, with an eye-catching tortoise shell frame for the upper part of the lenses and behind the ears.

“Tell your boss when you go back after your break to leave my boss alone!” the person making the coffee said, shoving the cup in the other’s direction.

The other young man forcefully grabbed for his coffee, and Marnie thought it a wonder he didn’t break the cup in the process.

“They’d really both benefit if they worked together,” the other young man insisted. “But your boss won’t be flexible to change.”

“You keep forgetting, she was here first,” the young man behind the coffee bar responded with a tone that indicated he considered the conversation complete. The other young man stormed off with his coffee.

“So sorry about that,” the young man behind the counter apologized to Marnie and Zane. “That Colby and his boss don’t know when to give up. Enough about that. What I can I interest you lovebirds with tonight?”

Marnie looked at the employee’s name tag. It read: BARTO. Then she looked over at Zane to see if he was going to bother to correct Barto’s impression of them. He didn’t, and before she could decide if she would or not, he stepped forward.

“Hi Barto,” Zane said, “we’d like to order some coffees. Actually, I would be up for a latte tonight.”

He turned to Marnie.

“How about you, Marnie?”

Marnie was still in shock that Zane hadn’t put up a fuss over anything Barto said she hadn’t even thought about what she wanted to order.

“Yes, sure, that’s fine,” she said. “I’ll have what you’ve ordered.”

Marnie now nervously wondered if Zane really did see this as a date, the way Sophia told her he might… or perhaps she just read too much into it.

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 4  of 16.

Marnie showed up at the address Blake gave her. She noticed a bookstore next door as well, and wondered if they might be connected. Then she stepped inside to a cafe, themed with a mix of literary and French decor. A small stage was in one corner, with tables gathered around it. A few people milled and conversed, but near the counter she saw Blake talking to a woman perhaps a decade older than himself. Marnie hesitantly approached, but as soon as Blake saw her, he waved her over.

“Marnie! You have to meet Suzette. Suzette, this is my cousin Marnie.”

“I am so pleased to meet you,” Suzette said, and Marnie could hear a French lilt in her voice.

“Are you French?” Marnie asked, as much to try and make small talk as curiosity.

“No, I was born and raised here. My parents are both French, and raised me to be fluent in the culture and language.”

“I’m surprised you’re older than Blake,” Sophia said aloud. “When Marnie said you two were friends, I expected, I don’t know, someone closer to the same age.”

Just then, a young woman with a cane entered the front door. Suzette sighed, exasperated.

“Not her again. Excuse me for a moment.”

Marnie watched Suzette as she went over to the woman who entered. She couldn’t hear them, but clearly the woman with the cane made a passionate case to Suzette about something. Suzette shook her head, and stamped her foot, and the other woman eventually left, dejected. She returned to Marnie and Blake.

“Sorry for the interruption,” Suzette said. “Six months ago, that Kara Inverness opened a bookstore next door. She found out about my annual poetry reading event and began pressing to sell how-to books here, to encourage more people to write. She says it would be a good partnership, and I keep telling her I am not interested.”

“So why isn’t it?” Blake asked the question already on Marnie’s mind. “We both studied to be librarians, Suzette. We’re supposed to be advocates for the written word. Why wouldn’t you support a bookstore?”

“For years, this event has been my tradition and my tradition alone. She is the newcomer to this area, and it is not my business to save her store. Too bad for her that her late husband was the better businessman.”

“What happened to him?” Marnie asked.

“Her husband died in a accident where the other party was under the influence. Hurt her bad enough she limps for the rest of her life. Such a tragedy. But I’m not a charity. I need to make money here myself.”

“But you’re not selling books,” Blake said.

“Yes, but if they spend on her books, it’s less money for my coffee and sweets,” Suzette responded.

Just then, Zane and Sophia arrived, much to Marnie’s relief. She might be Blake’s friend, but Marnie wasn’t terribly endeared to Suzette much.

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 3  of 16.

“Zane?” she finally asked hesitantly, afraid maybe he’d hung up on her.

“I wanted to make sure you were done talking or I’d never get a word in edgewise. I’m not a big fan of poetry.”

“Oh, that’s ok,” Marnie replied, surprising herself how sad she was. “I’ll probably get Sophia to come with me. Not like I will be alone.”

“There you go, cutting me off again, Marnie. I never said I wouldn’t go. And I have all of today off, so I can come. I might need some coffee to stay awake though.”

“It’s a literary cafe. Coffee should be easy.”

“Great! That will help keep me from falling asleep at all the bad poetry – kidding! Maybe I’ll discover something good.”

Marnie decided not to be discouraged about the situation. At least Zane was willing to come along, which meant he must like being with her… or, perhaps, he felt comfortable in going because his friend Sophia would likely also be there. Right now, she decided not to press her luck and find out if he thought Sophia was already going, given she hadn’t asked yet. She gave Zane the time, as well as the address to meet up at.

After that, she got in touch with Sophia and gave her the run-down.

“Zane’s coming? Then I really shouldn’t crash your date,” Sophia insisted.

“But Sophia, I think he’s coming because he thinks you’ll be there,” Marnie admitted. “I don’t want to risk him coming and leaving because you’re not there. Please say yes.”

“All right, all right, I will show up. But if he comes and stays, don’t expect me to play chaperone every second.’

“Thanks, Sophia. It means a lot. See you tonight!”

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 2 of 16.

Marnie wasn’t much of a social butterfly. She rarely went out to events, but that also meant her calendar wasn’t overflowing with conflicts. Marnie loved reading, mysteries and suspense especially, but poetry didn’t usually hold her interest. However, it would be a great chance to get to know the cousin with whom she’d recently reunited.

“Tell me where and when. I think I can get there tonight.”

“It’ll be great to see you. Also bring any of your friends that you can!”

Marnie took down the details and started to think about who, if anyone, she’d actually ask.

Sophia, her now best friend, would be an obvious choice. They used to work together at a bank before Marnie ended up doing finance at the medical device company. Sophia always liked hanging out and going on adventures, which was part of how they both met Blake in the first place.

Then she thought about Zane. Marnie knew she’d never hear the end of it from Sophia if she didn’t ask. Besides, odds are he’d not be available anyway with his nursing shifts.

Marnie dialed Zane’s cell phone number, and to her surprise he answered. She’d gotten his cell phone number from Sophia, but she didn’t have his home number. Maybe someday, she’d ask for that. Granted, his cell phone might be his only phone in his line of work, but asking if he had a home phone number seemed far more personal.

“Hey Marnie,” Zane said, rather hurriedly. “I hope you’re not needing me to help you out again. I’m still a bit burned out from that last adventure.”

Just days ago, he’d assisted in the rescue of  Sophia – someone he’d known from school – when Marnie called him for help when she couldn’t figure out how to outwit Owen from Legal. She’d hoped he wouldn’t always see her as a damsel calling in distress. They always seemed to meet up like that.

“Blake called and invited me along to a poetry reading tonight, along with any friends I might want to take,” Marnie blubbered nervously. “I know it’s just short notice, and you might not like poetry, I really don’t know. But in case you were interested, I thought I should ask, so that you didn’t feel left out or anything, you know?”

Marnie stopped talking, but heard no response on the other end of the line.

Presented by SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS

SPONTANEOUS CHOICES SHORTS features short serialized fiction by author Shannon Muir, that may be later released as part of e-book or print collections. In 2019, these serials will appear every second and fourth Thursday (and fifth Thursdays as they occur) beginning January 17, 2019. The story line featured over the next sixteen days is “A Spontaneous Kind of Mystery,” featuring the return of Marnie and Zane. This is part 1 of 16.

Marnie tried to go back to work like the past weekend hadn’t happened. Unfortunately, the buzz at all the water coolers gossiped about Owen from the Legal department getting arrested for crimes, a receptionist quitting to be with her jailed lover, and a rebuked boss’ daughter nearly burning down a historic library.

No one discussed the employee from Finance who played a front and center role in saving the day. For no sensational story accompanied Marnie Hawkin; people, if they saw her at all, observed someone plain and simple.

Later that day, her phone rang. It turned out to Blake, the distant cousin she’d met during the whole adventure and part of her personal reason having been on the scene to begin with.

“Blake?! Are you all right?”

“Yes! I’m calling because I just got late notice that one of the people from my library program is staging a poetry reading tonight at a nearby coffee shop to where you work. Since I’d be coming to town, I thought you might like to meet up.”

“A coffee shop? Not a library?”

“Suzette struggled to find a library job, so instead she started a cafe with a literary theme. She often tries to set up poetry and fiction readings. I wanted to catch her up after our latest adventures, and she invited me to the reading. She’d really love to meet you. What do you say?”