Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [100]
"Are you hoping to find blueprints that say 'Book of Days' room?"
Cameron grinned. "That would be nice."
Ann and Cameron stepped into the county courthouse at two o'clock. A large sign on the door told them the building would close at three. Plenty of time to find what they needed.
As they approached a tall counter with a black and white Information sign, the floorboards creaked, as if they were about to snap, but the bespectacled middle-aged man behind didn't look up.
After clearing his throat three times, each time raising in volume but eliciting no reaction from the clerk, Cameron looked around for another way to get the man's attention. A bell sat at the far end of the counter and Cameron stepped over to it.
A tiny sign matted down with yellowed Scotch tape said, "Ring bell for service." He looked at Ann, shrugged, and gave the bell a sharp rap.
The clerk instantly looked up from his Dean Koontz novel and smiled. "Hello! Nice to have you here today. How can I assist you?"
"We're selling hearing aids, are you interested?" Cameron said under his breath.
Ann elbowed him. "We'd like access to some public records."
"Sure, what of?" He set down his book and stood.
"The building where The Sail & Compass restaurant is."
The clerk frowned but trudged off and came back six minutes later with blueprints of the building.
"Be careful with those, please. That's Taylor—" The clerk stopped himself as if he'd been caught taking a cookie out of a kid's lunch box.
"We know Taylor Stone owns the building." Cameron spread the blueprints out on the counter and studied them.
"Do you know him?"
"What?" Cameron looked up.
"Do you know Taylor Stone?"
"Yes." He turned back to the plans. "We both do." He glanced at Ann who had a look of intense concentration on her face. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing? It looks like the basement has—"
"Does he know you're looking at the plans?" The clerk leaned in almost close enough for his head to touch Cameron's.
"I don't think so. I didn't think we had to ask permission to see items of public record."
The clerk leaned back and tapped his foot. "No, I suppose you're right. But don't you think it would nice if you asked? I do."
"We will next time. I promise. Now do you mind if we take a quick look at these without interruption? And then we won't bother you anymore."
"You're not bothering me." The clerk cleared his throat. "Much."
"We just need a few more minutes, thanks." Cameron smoothed out the plans and scanned them again. He looked at Ann and found her staring at him with a little smile on her face. She had to be thinking the same thing. The plans showed a basement with two levels with a number of large rooms.
The perfect place to hide a Book of Days.
"Could we make a copy of these plans?" Cameron said.
The clerk's face paled. "No."
"Why not? They're public record."
The clerk smacked his lips with a series of rapid pops, as if it would help him make up a story as to why not. "The copier's busted."
"Really? I used to work on them," Cameron said. "I bet I could—"
"It's, uh, time for you two to leave."
Ann puffed out a breath. "The sign says you close at 3:00 and it's only 2:20."
"I have a lot to do to close up."
"But this is a government building. You can't lock the doors until the hour stated on your sign."
"Oh yes, yes, yes I can. If I have a government errand to run, which I do, I can lock up early."
"I could get the copier fixed in a few minutes."
The clerk waved his hand at Cameron, as if shooing away a hornet. "You have to leave. Right now."
"We'd really like to get a copy."
As the clerk kept shooing them away with his hand, Ann whispered, "We don't need a copy, trust me."
"Why?"
"I'll tell you later. Let's get out of here before the clerk has a coronary."
Cameron smiled. The bees didn't buzz unless you whacked the hive. And he wouldn't stop till he and Ann found the honey.
The clerk picked up his phone on the first ring.
"What did they