Page 71 of My Rock Star Neighbor
The four of us reconvene in one of the nooks by the crafting area inside the library.
Iris says, “Do we think that was Ward?”
“I think so, and maybe he recognized Galliano and got spooked,” I say.“Otherwise, why would he leave so soon?”
“And Galliano did not seem to know what to look for.He didn’t pick up anything,” Maddie says.“I watched the whole time.”
“Ward doesn’t hide his miniature obsession in the office, so it would make sense that Pommer and Galliano could learn of his Instagram account and figure out the posts,” Maddie says.“But how can Ward be sure that nobody else will check out the book and find the cash?It doesn’t seem like a foolproof plan.”
We stare at each other.It does seem like a risky maneuver.
“Could the book be on reserve?”Maddie asks.“Now that I think about Ward’s trips to the library, he often went to the reserve section to pick up a book.”
Maddie texts Lily, asking ifCaper Crushis on reserve.
Lily:I can check the system in a minute.We keep the reserved books on the bookshelf by the checkout counter, so you can look there.I need to finish up with these last few children.
Iris and Bella help clean up the crafting area as we wait for Lily to finish.Finally, Lily takes over the front desk and checks the computer.
We all stand on the other side.
“It’s not on reserve,” Lily says.
“Okay,” Maddie says, accepting this far more gracefully than I would have.“Let’s all look in the reserve section.This has to be the mechanism.”
We each take a shelf in the reserve section.
“Caper Crush!”Iris whispers loudly.
A rubber band is wrapped around it with a hold slip indicating the intended recipient.Maddie removes the paper, handing it to Lily, pulls off the rubber band, flips open the book, and an envelope falls out.A thin envelope, and it’s sealed shut.
“Wow,” Lily breathes.
“Patron coming up!”Bella whispers.
We take the book and the envelope and retreat to the back of the library, Lily muttering after us, “You need to put the book back though.”
“I have another white envelope in my bag in the back, so I can replace this envelope,” Maddie says.
That bag really does have everything.
She carefully opens the envelope.We all stare at the thousand-dollar bill inside.Wow!
Maddie takes a photo.
She takes an envelope out of her bag, inserts the thousand-dollar bill into it, seals the envelope shut, and puts it back in the book.
Lily is staring at the piece of paper identifying the recipient.“This isn’t an official library hold slip, even though it looks similar.They’ve clearly copied it to make it look like ours so it will fit in, but that’s why there was no record ofCaper Crushbeing on reserve.”
“That makes sense,” Maddie says.“They have more control over the book, then, and there’s no chance the book will get reshelved.It’s also missing any library markings.”Maddie takes a photo of the reserve slip.
We put the hold slip back on the book and then return it to the shelf.We still have the rest of the afternoon to see if Ward shows up to claim the book, unless that was Ward who entered and he’s now been scared off.
“Do you have him now?”I ask.
Maddie shakes her head.“This is still not enough.Maybe ifCaper Crushhad been in the Instagram post.The fact that aCaper Crushbookmark slipped out of the book gifted by Beatrice is close, but I need something more.And I still don’t know if the other deputy commissioners are investigating him or involved in the scheme.”
My shoulders sag.I thought we had him.
