An Imperfect Librarian - Elizabeth Murphy [76]
“If I were you,” Henry says, “I’d be ready to chop off Francis’ prick.”
“Go for it!”
“It’s your duty as a librarian to report on employee fraud. There’s nothing wrong with being a whistle blower. On the contrary.”
“‘Take the books you found in the hexagon, Carl, show them to the Chief and let him take it from there.’ Don’t you think the plan is slightly simplistic? This is not some play, you know, Henry. This is my life, my job.”
“Fine. Go to work for Mr. Hickey. Not much to look forward to unless you don’t mind a job cleaning up shit after a dog.”
“What if something goes wrong? What if Norah gets hurt?”
“The only time you have any imagination is when you’re imagining the worst. The best thing you can do for Norah is get Francis out of her life. Francis is the owner of the Crimson Hexagon. She told you that. Don’t be worrying for nothing.”
“You said yourself the combat was unequal, that I was no match for him.”
“Yes, but you have me. And you have an opportunity. Feigned retreat: it’s a common warring technique. Right now, Francis is so busy congratulating himself, he doesn’t see that you’re sneaking up from behind.”
“What if he turns around and catches me in the act?”
“I’m not a fortune teller, Carl. How do I know if and when the lightening might strike you? I’m surprised you’re not written up in the Guinness Book of World Records for the amount of worrying you do. Trust me.”
Trusting Henry is the only option left. It’s either that or work for Francis. I call Margaret to schedule a meeting with the Chief as soon as he returns from his winter vacation. Henry coaches me up until the last moments before I go to his office. “Your role is to plant the seed,” he says. “Nothing more. Once the police enter that hexagon, they’ll find materials from the library. The administration will isolate the problem and Hickey will take the blame.”
We exit my office at the same time. Henry takes the elevator. I take the stairs to the main lobby then to the Chief’s office.
“Hello, Carl,” he says. “How are you?” He’s peering at the computer screen over the rims of his glasses. “Aren’t they something?”
Vacation pictures are on the screen.
“That’s the cottage we rented. The beach is on the other side of the hill. What an ideal spot. The antipodes of Newfoundland, did you know that? Halfway round the world. I miss it already. Pull up a chair. You’ll see better.”
“Glad you had a nice trip. I’d like to talk to you about–”
“Look at this one. Wait till Deidre sees them. I only downloaded them off the camera a few minutes ago. I haven’t adjusted to the time change yet. Did you ever see a more beautiful sunset?”
“I need to discuss–”
“There’s another sunset. No, that’s not right. That’s the sunrise. Sundials in the southern hemisphere have the hours in reverse, you know. The moon is upside down compared to our view. There’s the aurora australis. Or was it called aurora australias?”
“I have another appointment soon.”
“See how clear the sky is in this picture? There’s less pollution than in the northern hemisphere. Population’s not as dense, less industrialization.”
“I came here today because I want to inform you of theft from Special Collections.”
His eyes are glued to the screen. “That’s a couple. His name was John. Now what’s her name? Heather? No, that’s not it. Karen? Paula? Darn!”
“I’m not talking about patrons idly stealing a book here or there. I’m talking about employee fraud.”
“Heather. That’s it. There she is again in this picture. That’s their place. A ranch. Horses. Cattle. Amazing.”
“I’ve been thinking of going to the media or the police with this.”
He draws back from the screen. “What was that?”
“I’ve been thinking of going to the media or the police with this.”
“Have a seat, Carl.”
I’m already sitting. “I’m here because I want to report on employee fraud. As you know, this sort of thing is not uncommon in libraries with rare and valuable materials like what’s in Special Collections.” I take out my briefcase, open it then lay the books on the desk, one next to the other.