Free The Big Bang by Linda Joffe Hull Page B

convenience of living and working in the same neighborhood couldn’t be overestimated.
    She closed her eyes.
    But what if she didn’t live in the suburbs at all, but in a little bungalow on a shady tree-lined street in Congress Park or Sloan’s Lake?
    Frank would never live in a bungalow, or anywhere as diverse as Sloan’s Lake.
    She scanned the listings.
    Shelver, Ross-Barnum Branch (20 hours)
    Shelver, Hampden Branch Library (20 hours)
    Education Program Assistant, Various Branch Libraries (40 hours)
    She was far too senior for a shelving position, and the longer hours, reduced pay, and status of an education program assistant wasn’t for her.
    Library Security Supervisor, Central Library (40 hours)
    Facilities security was of no interest, but the location gave her a shudder of pleasure.
    Central Library.
    Whenever she made the trek into downtown or even to the Cherry Creek Mall, she always allowed time for a detour to the Central Library. Set like a contemporary, sophisticated cousin beside the ultramodern art museum and kitty-corner to the state capital, she could spend forever in the open atrium, soaking in the smell of periodicals and well-worn hard covers. She’d watch the steady stream of students, readers, even vagrants, as they traveled en masse up and down the open elevators, in and out of the three floors’ worth of genre-specific galleries.
    It was nothing short of amazing how patrons lined up in front of the bank of self-serve computers and knew exactly how to check out their books.
    She glanced at the last listing.
    Head Reference Librarian, Branch location
    As she started to double-click for a more detailed description, the front door jangled open.
    Will Pierce-Cohn popped his head in. “You open?”
    Her stomach flip-flopped with the sight of him, but she smiled. “Come on in.”
    He did and placed a small stack of books on the Formica counter almost before she’d switched back to the circulation screen.
    “I think these might be a day or two overdue,” he said.
    “Let’s look.” She grabbed a book and scanned the barcode. “Three days, I’m afraid.”
    He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
    “You want to renew any of these?”
    “Nope. Not mine.”
    Roseanne Goldberg’s name populated the borrower screen. “I can note the charge and Roseanne can pay the fine next time she’s in.”
    “I got it,” he mumbled, handing her a five.
    “That’s awfully nice of you.” An icky recognition he probably thought of her as Frank’s coconspirator flitted in her gut.
    “I told her I’d look these over, but I only had a chance to glance through the first book.”
    “How was it?” she asked, to be friendly and conversational.
    “Interesting.” He drummed his fingers on the book atop the remaining pile. “I guess.”
    Whether it was his expression, the sense he held back around her, or curiosity about the reading he was doing at Roseanne’s behest, Maryellen set the book aside as she checked in the other titles. Instead of putting it with the others on the reshelving cart, she opened the drawer below her desk and glanced at the title before stowing it next to her lunch for noontime reading.
    ToxiCity
.

CHAPTER NINE
    Melody Mountain Ranch General Provision 9.6.
Certain areas are designated as common property intended for the common use and enjoyment of the owners for their recreation
and other related activities.
    “I mean, my dad was supposed to get out of my hair, and he did in a way, just not for Easter, like I wanted.” Eva placed the last of the onyx and seed pearl amulets on the length of purple velvet she’d draped over the multipurpose room podium and started for the art supply closet to put away the pilfered jewelry-making supplies. “But I think I figured out why.”
    Tyler, who’d been maddeningly chill about the whole thing, stood there looking smug. “Why’s that?”
    “We’re just not powerful enough, yet.”
    “It’s also pretty unpredictable to