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holds the potential to be filled with light, laughter, love, and all the great things of the human experience. Even for a man like he who was into his final act.
    ***
    "Where do you want these books to go" Helen asked.
    "Huh" Tommy said while looking up from his own box. "Oh, just over on that shelf. I'll sort them out later."
    "Oh, I'm pretty sure I can sort books" Helen replied with a laugh.
    Tommy's cheeks flushed and he turned away quickly. He could still hear her giggling however. He did his best to ignore her laughter.
    "My my. You sure are an eclectic reader."
    "But of course" he replied with a smile.
    "An eclectic reader with marvelous blue eyes."
    "And you madam, are a librarian with a decidedly flirty nature."
    Helen put her hand to her chest. Mouth frowning she replied "Me? Flirty? Why I have never...."
    Her face cracked and she began laughing again. "Ok, maybe I have been accused of that before. Are you complaining?
    "Not at all ma'am. Not at all."
    "Good. Now, how about I finish organizing these while you order us a pizza?
    "Yes ma'am. Pepperoni or sausage?"
    "Surprise me."
    ***
    "I'm curious about something" Tommy said. As he spoke he gestured with a slice of pepperoni that waved limply in the air.
    "Ask away" Helen mumbled around a mouthful of her own pizza.
    "I can't figure it out. We have missing books about stars and Norse gods. We have a thousand year old Indian mound. And we have a missing retired agent."
    "That is the mystery" Helen replied. "Not to mention strange dreams and phantom voices."
    "Well, something had to catch Stephens’s attention. He didn't just hop up and start connecting random dots into such a strange tapestry. What was the impetuous? Did he say anything to you that might hint at why he was digging in the first place?"
    "I'm not really sure. He just said that he had started to notice signs. I think he was having bad dreams as well but he wouldn't talk about them. I just know he was having trouble sleeping towards the end."
    “When are you meeting with that professor friend of yours?”
    “Tomorrow morning. I took a little time off from work. Would you like to come with me?”
    “I’d like that very much” he replied.
    “Then I’ll pick you up in the morning. Now, we have an office to finish. Up and at em!”
    Tommy groaned and felt his knees pop as he stood back up. “Ok, let’s get this done.”
    Day 8: Wednesday
    His phone rang early the next morning around 8:00. “Hello” he answered.
    “Hey there hot stuff” was the reply followed by a giggle.
    “Better save your hey you might have a cow someday” he quipped back. “Are we still on for a trip to the University today?”
    “Sadly I have a board meeting that I have to attend” Helen said. “I can’t go. But, if you’d like to go ahead I’ll call my friend and let him know that you’ll still be there.”
    He sighed. “I guess that would be best. I just know I’m going to get lost though.”
    Helen’s laughter rang through the receiver. “Don’t worry my dear. Just go to Fihiol Hall. Office 202. Ask for Professor Nelson. He’ll be expecting you.”
    “I better write this down.”
    ***
    Despite himself he managed to find his way without getting lost. He pulled his car into visitor parking and walked the few blocks to Fihiol Hall. A quick glance at the directory and a short elevator trip later he was standing in front of office 202. He knocked on the door.
    “Come in” came the reply.
    He opened the door and poked his head in. “I was looking for Professor Nelson.”
    “Come in come in. You must be Agent McCain.”
    Tommy bit off his reply and simply said "Thank you for meeting with me professor"
    As he spoke he leaned across the desk to shake Professor Nelson's hand. Or at least tried to lean across the desk. It was so covered with books and stacks of tests that he was afraid he would cause an avalanche.
    "Not a problem" Nelson responded breathily. Silently Tommy couldn't help but to laugh. Nelson was the