The Hummingbird House by Donna Ball

Author:Donna Ball
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780985774837
Publisher: Blue Merle Publishing
Published: 2013-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

~*~

The librarian, a small, quick woman with short pale hair and red-framed glasses that were easily half the size of her face, was named Amelia Brendt, and she seemed a bit overwhelmed by the two dapper gentlemen who presented themselves before her bright and early the following morning, ready for duty. They had checked and double-checked on the dress code, and were assured that street wear would be perfectly appropriate for their first day of community service at the public library. Orange jumpsuits were not, apparently, standard issue, so they opted for sports coats, khakis, and loafers or, in Paul’s case, driving moccasins worn without socks because he refused to completely abandon his sense of personal style for the sake of the provinces. Now that the stress of the trial was over, however, he was able to be much more relaxed about his attire and decided against neckwear.

Amelia Brendt peered up at them over the top of her glasses from behind the check out desk, looking puzzled. “Really, gentlemen,” she said, “you didn’t have to bring me your resumes.”

“We thought it might be helpful,” Paul explained, “for you to know our backgrounds so that you could place us more efficiently.” What he had really wanted her to know, of course, was that they were respectable citizens and business owners, not common criminals, lest there be any misunderstanding at all in that respect. To make certain, he had included at the top of both resumes a detailed report on the infraction that had resulted in their becoming victims of the justice system which had, in turn, led to their appearance now before her, in search of a way to be of service.

“We take our civic duty very seriously,” Derrick added. “As you’ll see there …” he indicated the papers in her hand, “I was an art history major, so perhaps I might be most useful at the research desk. That way when any calls come in regarding art, I’ll be available to field them.”

“Um, we actually don’t have a research desk, per se,” she replied, glancing around the fourteen-hundred-square-foot facility in bewilderment, “and I really can’t recall the last time anyone asked a question about art.” At his looked of horrified dismay, she assured him quickly, “We have several art teachers in the community. Usually people with a question would simply ask one of them.”

Derrick looked both cautiously relieved and disappointed. “Oh. Well, I suppose that’s all right then.” He added helpfully, “Our friend Lindsay is an art teacher. Perhaps you know her. Lindsay Wright.”

She drew breath for a reply but at that moment a woman came up with a stack of books and she excused herself to attend to them. Paul took out his BlackBerry and discreetly checked his messages while she was gone. “Still nothing from Lester Carson,” he murmured, frowning. “I’ve been calling him for two days. I know he got the invitation, I talked to his secretary.”

“I thought she said he was in Beijing.”

“She did, but he was due back Monday.

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