Arsenic And Old Books

“I understand that,” Kanesha said with a faint note of impatience. “The state crime lab is used to handling all kinds of fragile objects. I’ll be sure they understand the importance of the diaries, and I’m sure they’ll take all due care with them.”

That didn’t completely reassure me, but I had no say in the matter. “How long do you think they’ll take to complete their examination?”

Kanesha shrugged. “Ordinarily it could take several weeks to a few months. They’re always busy. But the mayor might be able to call in a few favors and get them first in line. She knows a lot of influential people.”

Political clout was a good thing, I reflected, when used for a good reason.

“Helpful that they already have your prints on record.” Kanesha grinned.

I decided to ignore that little sally. I was about to ask her a question when I heard a knock at the open door. I glanced past Kanesha to see Lucinda Long in the doorway, her purse on one arm and a canvas bag hanging from the other.

“Good morning, Your Honor,” I said. “Please come in. I have some news I think you’ll be happy about. Deputy Berry and I were just discussing it, in fact.”

The mayor moved forward. “Good morning, Ms. Berry. I’ve got news of my own that I think will make you happy, Mr. Harris.” She brandished the canvas bag. “I’ve found another volume of Rachel Long’s diaries.”

SIXTEEN

Diesel jumped down from the windowsill to go sidle up to the mayor. Kanesha rose from her chair, and I did, too, as soon as I could gather my jumbled thoughts enough to do so.

“Another volume,” I said. “That’s exciting.”

“I thought you’d be pleased,” Mayor Long said as she patted the cat’s head. “With the loss of the other four, and not knowing if—and when—we might get them back, this is truly lucky.”

She stepped forward, and Kanesha moved to one side. The mayor’s eyes lit on the diary on my desk. She stared at Kanesha, then at me. “That looks like one of the missing diaries.”

“When I came in this morning,” I said, “I found them on the shelves here, as if they had never disappeared.”

The mayor shook her head back and forth several times, obviously surprised. “What in the blue blazes is going on here?”

Kanesha motioned for Mrs. Long to take the chair she had vacated, and the mayor nodded. She made herself comfortable, her handbag in her lap. She leaned forward to place the canvas tote and its contents on the front edge of my desk. Diesel, evidently convinced the petting was done, went back to his spot in the window behind me.

Kanesha pulled another chair near the mayor and sat while I resumed my own seat. I was about to speak when Kanesha caught my eye. She shook her head slightly, so I stayed quiet.

“Your Honor,” Kanesha said, “I have some news I need to share with you. Pretty shocking news. I was planning to call you this morning after I finished with Mr. Harris, but we might as well talk now.”

Mrs. Long’s hands tightened on her handbag. Her expression blank, she said, “Go ahead.”

“I’m sorry to inform you that Dr. Marie Steverton has died,” Kanesha said.

“Dead? What on earth happened? I just talked to her last night.” The mayor sounded bewildered.

“She was the victim of a hit-and-run in the street in front of her house,” Kanesha said. “A neighbor was wakened by the noise around two a.m. and went out to investigate. He found her, but she was beyond help by then.”

“How horrible,” the mayor whispered. “What in the name of all that’s holy was Marie doing outside at that time of the morning?”

“We are investigating that,” Kanesha said. “At present we don’t know what would have brought her outside then.” Her gaze focused on the tote bag on my desk. Her tone sharpened when she spoke. “Your Honor, where did you get that bag?”

“The bag?” Once again the mayor appeared at sea. “I’ve had it for some time. I picked it up years ago at a college reunion. Why do you ask?”

“We found one like it, with that same emblem on it, in the street near Dr. Steverton,” Kanesha said. “It was larger than yours. It was also empty, although there were traces of something that had been inside it. We’re going to have it examined thoroughly, of course.”

“This gets weirder by the minute,” I said.

“Marie and I were at Sweet Briar together,” the mayor said. “It’s no surprise she had a bag with the crest on it. But why did she have it with her then?”

“That’s what we aim to find out,” Kanesha said. “I’m hoping the trace evidence inside will tell us. Your Honor, do you know if Dr. Steverton has any family that we need to contact?”

Mrs. Long shook her head. “As far as I’m aware, no, she didn’t have any close relatives. The college may have more information for you.”

“I’ll be checking with them,” Kanesha said. “You mentioned you talked to Dr. Steverton last night. Can you tell me about that conversation, and when it took place?” She pulled out her notebook and a pen.

“Your Honor, would you like some water? Or something else?” I asked. Mrs. Long looked a little wan to me.