Miss Zukas and the Raven's Dance by Jo Dereske

Author:Jo Dereske
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Mystery, Cozy, British Detectives, Thriller & Suspense, Women Sleuths, Literature & Fiction
Publisher: June Creek Books Originally published by Avon/HarerCollins in 1996
Published: 2009-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

Audrey set the key on Helma's desk. It was brass, and a round tag attached to it read, “RR.” "You're locking up the books," Audrey accused her.

"Only while I'm putting them in order. We can't have security worries at the same time we're trying to inventory and catalog the collection."

Audrey slowly scanned the Reading Room. "What do you want me to do?"

Helma gave Audrey the rubber-banded sets of cards George Melville had printed. "Could you file these sets in the first drawer, alphabetically by the first line of the first card in each set."

Audrey nodded and took the cards and sat in front of the oak card catalog, her long black hair spreading across her back. Helma thought Audrey might be twenty-five or twenty-six but her composure was far beyond her years, giving her an air of self-containment, almost concealment.

"The person who broke in last night must have watched you leave," Helma said.

"They didn't realize you were still in the building," Audrey agreed.

"Do you think they were looking for something Stanley Plummer hid before he died?"

Audrey turned and briefly regarded Helma. "Stanley Plummer was more likely to take than to hide," she said.

"What do you mean?"

Audrey shrugged. "That's the kind of man he was."

"Do you know the Raven stories?" Helma asked.

"There are many," Audrey said. "There's a time for telling them."

Helma heard the unspoken, “and this isn't it.”

"But can you tell me more about the Raven itself?" she asked.

"The Raven is a trickster, sometimes good, sometimes bad," Audrey said quietly and Helma heard the faint lilt of the storyteller in her voice.

"He never uses force, only trickery but sometimes he's so smart he outsmarts himself. He loves beautiful shiny things. There's a tale of the Raven turning himself into a baby so he could trick an old lady into giving him the moon she kept locked in a box." Audrey stopped and moistened her lips, bringing herself back from thoughts of a tale she obviously loved.

"Thank you," Helma told her. "If someone said, 'uncover the Raven,' would that have any significance for you?" Helma persisted.

Audrey's face stilled in thought, her expression unreadable. "No," she finally said. "The Raven changes shapes to play tricks and get what he wants; you wouldn't uncover the Raven. He is what he is."

"I've read some of the Raven tales. Have they all been transcribed?"

"There are people who've tried to write all the variations but some should only be told," Audrey said. "Not written."

Both women worked silently until Helma grew aware of a figure standing at Audrey's shoulder. It was Young Frank.

"My chain broke," he told Audrey.

"I didn't drive today," Audrey responded. "Christa brought me."

Young Frank looked at the clock on the Reading Room wall. It was 1:50.

"What time did he tell you?" Audrey asked.

"Two," Young Frank said. He scuffed one sneakered foot. "I don't care anyway."

"Ask Julianna," Audrey suggested.

Young Frank shook his head.

Helma immediately read the situation. "I'm taking a break now," she said. "Can I give you a ride?" she asked Young Frank

Young Frank nodded without surprise and left the Reading Room.

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