Free "A Murder In Milburn", Book 3: Death In The Library by Nancy McGovern Page B

to me,” Nora said.
    “If I don’t, I won’t talk to you,” Harvey said.
    “You’re acting like a jealous child, Harvey. This has to stop. First with Sean and now with Robert? I could understand about Sean but I have no interest in Robert and you know it.”
    “Well, what if he is interested in you?” Harvey said. “What if he’s the murderer?”
    “I really don’t think he did it,” Nora said. “I think he’s innocent.”
    “Oh that’s really touching,” Harvey snapped. He broke off, put on an artificial smile, and waved to someone behind her. Nora turned around to see the Mayor and his wife get into their car. She waved too, and waited for them to drive off.
    “Do you think they heard us fighting?” Nora said.
    “I don’t really care what they heard,” Harvey said. “Nora, why do you do this? Why do you feel compelled to poke your nose into other people’s business? Leave the matter alone. It’s not your job.”
    “Why is it your job to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do?” Nora asked. “I’m only trying to help.”
    “Nora, I’m your boyfriend. Or aren’t I? Are we just… casual?”
    “Harvey, you know I love you, but I’m not about to blurt that out to May. I can’t believe you’d be hurt about--”
    “It’s the speed with which you said it,” Harvey said. “As soon as she mentioned marriage, you reacted like she’d thrown water on your face. You sprang back from the topic.”
    “I did not!”
    “So you’re all right with marrying me?”
    “I’m not all right with marrying anybody,” Nora said.
    “Specially me?”
    “Harvey--”
    “What do you want from me, Nora?” Harvey asked, leaning down to look into her eyes. “I don’t know what it is. We’re the best of friends, or so I thought, but then you’re so unpredictable.”
    “I just… right now, for the next few weeks, I don’t want to think,” Nora said. “At least not until this mess gets sorted out.”
    “This mess? This murder which is none of your business?”
    “This murder which affects my friend and business partner,” Nora said. “This murder which occurred in the library where I’d been not ten hours earlier. How can you not understand that, Harvey?”
    “All I know is, it’s a ridiculously stupid idea to go meet Robert,” Harvey said. “I won’t allow it.”
    “Who exactly gave you that authority?” Nora said. “I’m an independent woman, Harvey.”
    “Independence does not equal stupidity.”
    “We’re circling around the same arguments,” Nora said with an exasperated sigh. “What it boils down to, is this. Are you giving me a ride to the library or not?”
    “I’m not,” Harvey said, his face stubborn. “I’m giving you an ultimatum. If you go to that library…”
    Nora’s eyes filled with tears. “If I go to that library, then what?”
    “Well, I guess I’ll know what your priorities are,” Harvey said. “And that my wishes have no place in your life.”
    “I have to go,” Nora said. “Can’t you see that I have to go? I’m not cheating on you Harvey, or doing this because I’m gossip hungry. I genuinely believe that Robert might have something that will help the police solve this case. I have to go.”
    “Then go,” Harvey said, almost sadly. “I’ll call you a taxi.”
    “Are you serious?” Nora felt like her spine was about to disintegrate. He couldn’t possibly be breaking up with her, could he? He couldn’t.
    “I’m very serious. I won’t let my girlfriend go. But I won’t stop you. It’s your choice.”
    “Goodbye, then,” Nora said, turning away from him.
    She cried the entire taxi ride to the library. But when she met Robert, her eyes were dry.  
    He was standing at the steps, with Grant sitting behind him, looking irritated.
    “There you are!” Grant exclaimed as Nora got out. “I thought I was going to go mad. Robert is insisting that I reopen the library, and I absolutely refuse. I wanted to go home but he won’t let me.