Page 70 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“But she must see that you’re different?”
“Maybe that experience happened when she was too young and it was so overwhelming—suddenly being a single mom and trying to create a career in her twenties but also take care of me.But I think your visit helped.You helped verbalize what I’ve been trying to show her.”I shrug.I don’t want to dwell on my relationship with my mom.It’s complicated.
Maddie nods and thankfully turns back to her writing.
“That Instagram post didn’t have a time, did it?”I ask.
“Not that I saw,” Maddie says, and she studies it again.I peek over her shoulder, but I also can’t see anything indicating a time.The miniature library doesn’t have a clock.
We also checked forCaper Crushwhen we first arrived, and it was not on the shelves.That’s not a good sign.
At least waiting around gives me time to think about my mom’s parting remark:She’s a good one.At least she has a plan.Don’t mess it up.Much better than that Christina, who was only using you.I’m still not sure I believe it’s for real, given that you slept on the couch, but I hope it is.
My mom approves?Is living in the Catskills mellowing her?Or maybe it’s the frequent visits from Christy’s grandchildren.Or maybe it’s finally clear that I’m not my dad… I didn’t drop out of high school.I majored in music and accounting.I don’t do drugs.I’ve managed to support myself with my side jobs and my music.
Maddie gets up to go to the bathroom, and I pay even closer attention to the entrance.But still, nobody who enters looks like any of our suspects enters the building.
Maddie shuffles back into view but sits on one of the couches that allows her to see both the entrance and the crafting area.
I walk over to the crafting area and hover by one of the bookshelves.The problem is that these are all children’s books.I look for the books that Dylan likes and pull one out, pretending to read it as I study the room.The children’s section has a carpet with the alphabet on it and birch round tables with matching chairs.Currently, every table is occupied with children and adults making Valentine’s Day cards.
A man with sunglasses and an enormously large overcoat enters.He walks into the stack one over from mine and talks to a librarian.
Maddie:That’s Galliano!Terrible disguise.
Maddie:Is he an accomplice picking up the money for Ward?Or has he also figured out Ward’s Instagram posts and is here to catch him in the act?
Are we actually going to catch someone picking up the money today?I can see why Maddie loves being a reporter.
Galliano is wandering around the stacks, but he doesn’t seem to have a plan.
Maddie hobbles into the stack where Galliano is studying the shelves.Only then Galliano passes her and heads to the back section near the potting stations, Maddie discreetly following.
A man dressed in rags, with a bowler hat hiding his face, enters.He has the same build as Ward, though.
Me:Ward!!
I follow him as he walks towards the back.But then he quickly turns around and leaves.
Me:Leaving.
I stride out the door to follow him but let a woman with a walker exit first.I survey the street.No Ward.And I’m not sure it was him.He had Ward’s build and seemed to walk like him, but it was so quick, and I didn’t see his face.
Maddie:Are you sure?
Me:Not positive.Don’t see him now.
Maddie:I’ll stay here.Iris and Bella can look along with you.
Iris and Bella join me outside, below the arched windows of the library, and we fan out to search this block.There are probably ten shops across the street and five or six on either side of the library.
He’s nowhere to be found.And it’s freezing.I wish I’d grabbed my coat when I ran out after him.We stored our coats in the library staff room, courtesy of Lily.
Galliano walks down the steps of St.Agnes, empty-handed.
Maddie:Galliano just left.
Me:No trace of Ward.
