Free The Murders in the Reed Moore Library by Ryan M. Welch Page A

surveying the library
as Penny followed him inside.
    With the hanging lights out shadows draped
the library. To Dupin's left was the children's end of the library
with the short shelves and a large open area at the center where
Penny told stories. On his right the taller adult shelving,
comfortable chairs and, under the wing, the computer lab. At a
cursory glance all looked as it should but Dupin still had the
scent of the blood in his nose and it kept his fur up. He needed
his tuna, and some water, and a good cleaning before he would feel
completely calm.
    It didn't look like Penny was getting his
tuna. She put the books down on the counter next to a computer and
picked up the phone instead.
    Dupin padded across the counter, hopped over
one computer keyboard, and batted at the coiled black phone cord.
Penny shook her head and pulled the cord away from him!
    That wasn't right. It was too late to do
anything about the man — from the smell it had to be a man — in the
book drop. But she could still get Dupin his tuna!
    "Police?" Penny pressed a hand to her chest.
"This is Ms. Copper, at the library? There's blood in my book
drop."
    Dupin sat down, tail twitching.
    "Right. Blood, on the ground from inside.
Like something was bleeding." Penny shook her head. "No, I haven't
opened it. I was taking out books that were stuck in the opening
and Dupin noticed the blood. Yes, my cat. I came inside and called
you."
    As if they could do anything about the man
either, it was too late! Dupin stared at Penny. Tuna? Remember
that?
    "Yes, thank you. I won't touch it." Penny put
down the phone and looked at Dupin. "What could it be? Do you think
someone poured blood into the drop? Why would they do that?"
    Dupin meowed and stood up. Time to worry
about the tuna, and no, the blood hadn't been poured into the drop.
Beneath the blood he had smelled the salty, sour smell of a man and
a whiff of decay. Someone put a dead man in the book drop as if he
was an overdue book. It was too late to do anything about him. The
police could handle getting him out. Dupin turned in a circle and
looked back at Penny. Tuna!
    Penny reached out and scratched his head with
one hand. Dupin forced down the purr. Not scratches! Tuna!
    "We should look around," Penny announced.
"Make sure nothing else looks out of place."
    No, not a good idea. Penny walked away from
the counter into the back work area, which took her closer to the
tuna. Okay, maybe a good idea. Dupin jumped down to the floor and
walked quickly after her. He caught up, walked through her legs and
headed towards the door to the staff room.
    Dupin walked around the workstations at the
center of the work area, past the rows of Coroplast boxes full of
books along the back wall, into the staff room. Home away from
home. Not much of a room with an old green couch marked with his
claws, and a wobbly table and two scratched dark wood chairs. Dupin
went to the cupboard where Penny kept the tuna and rubbed against
the door. He arched his back and looked back at her.
    Penny put her hands on the door frame and
leaned into the room. Then she pulled back and walked away, her
footsteps muffled by the short carpet.
    He couldn't believe it. She left. Without
getting the tuna. Dupin stood still in shock. She actually walked
away without getting his tuna out. Looking around the library could
wait, he couldn't!
    Humans! If they didn't have thumbs they'd be
no use at all!
    Dupin ran after Penny.
    He caught up when she flicked on the light in
her office. He rubbed against her legs and twitched his tail to
catch her attention. Instead she ignored him, looking around the
office as if the glass-topped computer desk, or the pictures of Mt.
Rainier from her climbs, held some secret. Everything looked as
neat as ever, but more importantly, it smelled fine. Dupin circled
her legs again.
    She sighed and walked away from the office,
out of the work area altogether. Dupin was trying to decide what to
do about it when Penny screamed! He