Read Read It and Weep (A Library Lover's Mystery) for Free Online Page A

for duty,” Heather announced.
    “Congratulations,” Lindsey said.
    “Come on, I’ve got outfit ideas,” Beth said, and she grabbed Heather by the hand and dragged her into the children’s section.
    Perry came in after them, looking dejected.
    “So, no comforting hugs to give?” Robbie asked him.
    Perry shook his head. “Sad girls are clingy; happy girls just grab you, squeeze the breath out of you and then run off. Oh, and I’m in the play, too. I’m Moth, one of the faerie servants. What sort of name is that?”
    “Chin up,” Robbie said. “You and your lady friend are two of the faeries; you can run lines together.”
    “Really?” he asked.
    Robbie nodded and Perry looked infinitely cheered. Then his face darkened. “Wait. Am I going to have to wear tights?”
    Both Lindsey and Robbie laughed at his horrified expression.
    “You’ll manage it,” Robbie said. “Some girls find them very attractive.”
    Perry didn’t look like he believed him.
    “Dylan could use your help in back,” Lindsey said.
    “Fine,” Perry said, and he marched glumly past them.
    The doors opened again and Ms. Cole entered. She looked utterly composed; Lindsey couldn’t tell if they were about to have a lemon breakdown or not.
    Ms. Cole walked passed Lindsey and Robbie and assumed her usual post at the circulation desk. She slipped her reading glasses onto her nose and began checking in the stack of books that had been abandoned by Ann Marie. Lindsey glanced at Robbie, and he shrugged.
    “Do you have anything you want to share, Ms. Cole?” Lindsey asked.
    “No.”
    “Do you need some time to compose yourself?” Lindsey persisted.
    Given the severity of Ms. Cole’s demeanor, Lindsey was afraid the woman hadn’t gotten the part and would be even more difficult to work with than usual. The thought made her shudder.
    “Why on earth would I need that?” Ms. Cole snapped.
    Lindsey blinked and then turned to Robbie, hoping he could offer some comforting words of encouragement. But no, the big wuss was backing up toward the door.
    “Where are you going?” she asked.
    “I have a . . . thing,” he said.
    “For an actor, you are a terrible liar.”
    Robbie shrugged and continued to slide toward the door. Lindsey glared at him and he made his right hand into the shape of a phone with middle fingers folded and his thumb and pinky out.
    “I’ll call you,” he whispered.
    “Chicken!” she hissed after him.
    “Bock, bock,” he clucked as he walked away with his knees bent, flapping his arms as he left the building.
    Lindsey squashed her laugh. She needed to think about her staff. Poor Ms. Cole. Not getting the part had to be a crushing blow for the woman, who as far as Lindsey could tell, had virtually no life outside of her job at the library.
    “Listen, Ms. Cole,” Lindsey said as she came around the counter to stand beside her. “You are an exemplary employee when it comes to never taking a moment for yourself, which is why if you’re feeling a little emotional, I completely understand if you want to take some time to regroup.”
    Ms. Cole turned from the stack of books she was checking in to face Lindsey. She carefully removed her glasses and let them hang on the chain from her neck while she met her boss’s concerned gaze.
    “I’m going to need some time off,” she said.
    “Of course, anything you need,” Lindsey said.
    “I’ll need the week that the play is running,” Ms. Cole said. “I will simply be too exhausted playing Titania to come into work that week.”
    “Ah!” Lindsey gasped. “You got it? You got the part?”
    Ms. Cole bowed her head in acknowledgment.
    “That’s wonderful,” Lindsey cried. Anyone else she would have hugged, but Ms. Cole was not a hugger, so Lindsey held up her hand, and said, “High five.”
    Ms. Cole frowned at her.
    “That’s when you slap your hand with mine,” Lindsey said.
    “Why?” Ms. Cole asked.
    “It’s a theater thing,” Lindsey lied. “It