Page 14 of Read Between The Lines

I felt like shaking the man, but I wrestled my voice into steadiness. ‘There are various reasons why I think the search will be more confined than the entire world. I’m happy to share them with you, if you’re interested.’

‘The thing is, I’m really not,’ said Leo, not even pretending to be polite. ‘You seem like a perfectly nice person, and I’m sure you think you’re doing this from the best of intentions and genuinely believe what you’re saying. But I have no desire to get embroiled in another investigation, no matter how worthy you claim it is. There’s a reason why I’m not in the police anymore.’

‘Oh?’

He shook his head. ‘And that reason is frankly none of anyone’s business but my own. You’re not wheedling it out of me that easily. It makes no sense for me to entangle myself in a scheme which is undoubtedly going to end in tears. Your tears, rather than those of your so-called nemesis Brian James, just to be clear. I’m sorry for you, but that’s the way it’s going to be. You’d be wise to put the whole sad affair behind you and move on with your life. Join a chess club, meet some nice geeky bloke there and forget all about the nasty scammer who stole your happiness for a while and tried to rob you of your dosh too.’

Unfortunately, Leo’s determination to dissuade me from my mission was having the exact opposite effect. The blunter he was, the more convinced I was that Leo was the man for the job. I liked how he cut through the crap and was more concerned with speaking honestly than tiptoeing around with polite, but ultimately useless, avoidance tactics. He didn’t use any flowery language, so beloved by Scammer Brian as a means of manipulation. Leo Taylor might have been rude and selfish, but he was also straightforward, and at least I wouldn’t have to worry about where I stood with him. If he agreed to be on my team, he would tell me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear. I could do with some honesty for a change.

‘It’s flattering that you think I’d only have to click my fingers to have the chess boys dropping their pieces and come running. But I’ve learnt my lesson, and dating is the last thing on my mind.’

In fact, I couldn’t imagine ever wanting to put myself in the position of being so vulnerable again. It was much safer to steer clear of all kinds of emotional complications.

‘Good for you. This has been delightful, but I’m afraid I really must go now. Good luck. I hope not to see you sobbing in the library again.’ He rose and started putting his jacket on.

‘I wasn’t sobbing, for your information. But don’t leave yet. You haven’t heard my full pitch. I promise I’ll make it worth your while to help me.’

He paused. ‘Tell me you’re not about to offer some kind ofPretty Womanstyle arrangement. My services cannot be bought.’

I felt my whole face burn. ‘Why would you even think that?’

He laughed. ‘It is too easy to wind you up.’ Sinking back onto the chair, he shrugged the jacket back off his shoulders. ‘Go on then, I’ve got another couple of minutes before I need to be elsewhere. In what way would it benefit me to help you out?’

I took a deep breath and dived in. ‘You used to be a policeman, but now you spend nearly every day in the library’s business section browsing books about how to write a business plan and become your own boss and the like. As you’re in my library during normal working hours, I deduce that you are currently unemployed. And given your choice of reading material, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that you are considering starting your own business.’

‘You’re correct, it doesn’t take a genius to work all that out.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘So far, all correct deductions. Good for you. Maybe you’ll do better in this investigation malarky than I originally thought. I’m afraid I don’t see how that is in any way relevant, however.’

‘But I suspect it’s not going to plan,’ I continued, as if he hadn’t said anything. ‘You’re reading the books, writing lots of notes, but somehow, you don’t know where to start with putting together that business plan. And without a proper business plan, you and I both know that your dreams of becoming your own boss will remain exactly that: dreams. I’ve seen the papers scattered all over the place, the look of frustration alternating with the middle-distance stare of doom.’

I’d hit a nerve. I watched as a range of expressions crossed Leo’s face. He finally settled on bored indifference, which I suspected was masking his real emotion.

‘Is this an attempt to do a Sherlock Holmes routine on me?’ he asked. ‘Because if so, it’s not going to work. Sherlock Holmes’s unrealistic deductive abilities began the slippery slope of juries believing no case is proven until infinite amounts of unachievable forensic detail are provided. In other words, I’m not a fan.’

‘That’s a shame. I’m happy to recommend some other series in which the Sherlock Holmes character features with perhaps less of the irritating pedantry on display,’ I said, unable to resist allowing myself to be side-tracked. ‘Laurie R. King’s books for example. In that series he gets married to a young feminist called Mary Russell who gives as good as she gets.’

‘You really are passionate about your job, aren’t you? If I promise to read one of Ms King’s books, will you leave me alone?’

I shook my head, and waited for him to take the bait.

He sighed and ran a hand messily through his hair. ‘Fine, I admit that the business plans are in fact not going to plan. But I don’t see how that’s of interest to you, or why it should have any influence on my extremely sensible decision not to embroil myself in your scheme.’

‘But you really want the business plans to work. After all, you’ve diligently ploughed your way through even the driest volumes on those shelves. Anyone with less determination would have put them to one side long ago. You’re looking for a way forward, but you haven’t found it yet. I think I can assist you with that. If you agree to help me, I in turn will help you with your plan.’ I put up my hand to stop his inevitable interruption. ‘And before you sneer and ask how I’m qualified to do that, I’ll have you know that before I switched to training as a librarian, which I realised I was more passionate about, I started out studying for my master’s degree in business in this very city, so I do know what I’m talking about. Admittedly practices might have moved on a bit since then, and I haven’t had as much real-world experience as some, but I can put together a business plan for you that will have everything that bank managers and potential investors are looking for, plus I have an extra ace up my sleeve.’

I could tell that he was torn between the desire to ask what that might be and reluctance to show me any indication that he might be about to concede defeat.

I remained quiet. Being a librarian, I wasn’t afraid of silence in a conversation, and I knew its power very well.

‘Go on then, what is the extra ace up your sleeve?’ he asked eventually.

‘Doris.’

‘Doris. The sea goddess from Greek mythology? Or do you mean that harmless-looking little old lady, who I happen to know reads the most extraordinary smut?’

I battled to keep my tone steady as I fought back at him. ‘There’s so much to unpack there. For a start, nobody ever refers to “little old men” in such a condescending tone of voice, and as for the “smut” aspect, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of spice. Also, how would you know they’re that kind of book unless you’ve read them yourself? Or is that another example of you rushing to judge something you know nothing about? Good Greek knowledge though, I’ll give you that,’ I conceded, realising that it wouldn’t do my cause any good if I spent this whole conversation telling him off.

‘You’re not the only one to have a previous existence,’ he responded. ‘And yes, it’s a fair cop: you’ve got me on both charges of making assumptions. My bad. I promise to try harder in the future and be much more respectful in my use of language. So, what extraordinary abilities does the petite wise woman Doris have to offer?’

I couldn’t help laughing at this incredibly accurate new description of her.

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