Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [101]
"The layout of Taylor's restaurant." The clerk squeezed the tip of his pencil as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Interesting. I was right." The phone hummed. "And did you make it seem like Taylor wouldn't want them to see those plans?"
"Yes. I think I convinced them."
"Good." The line went silent. "You've been an extremely loyal disciple, and that means a great deal to me. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"But just so we're clear, if you tell anyone anything about the, uh, observing you've been doing for me—and I mean anyone—I will slit your throat. Will that work for you?"
"Yes. We're clear."
"Excellent. I appreciate you."
The line went dead.
"Taylor has influence in this town, I'll give him that," Cameron said as they walked out the courthouse doors.
"Considerable influence." Ann batted him on the arm. "Did you really work on copiers at one time?"
"No."
Ann smiled. "So what's our next step?"
"I think we need to do a little late-night exploring."
"You mean a little late-night breaking and entering." She glared at him. "Are you serious?"
Cameron smiled. "But it's only a little exploration in a good friend's building. You think he'll mind?"
"Hello?" Ann knocked on her head. "Yes, I think he'll mind."
"I agree, but I can't worry about that. Tonight we're going to find an amazing book. I can feel it."
CHAPTER 37
A strong wind whipped down Main Street, powerful enough to give a slight bend to the lampposts spaced at twenty yard intervals. Cameron's parked MINI Cooper lurched back and forth as the wind buffeted the car. His window was open a crack and the wind whistled through the opening, as if it was trying to speak a warning.
Ann scrunched down in the passenger seat—matching Cameron's own posture—giving little shakes of her head. She looked at him. Her eyes asked if they were really going to do something as ludicrous as break into Taylor's building. He imagined his own eyes said, "I'm not sure" in return.
It was one in the morning; most of the town had been shut down for three hours. The only building still open was Take a Peak Tavern a quarter-mile down the road at the end of town, and there had been only three cars in the lot when they drove by ten minutes earlier.
"I can't believe we're doing this," Ann said.
"Why?"
"Why?" She coughed out a laugh. "Other than the fact I could get fired for doing this and we could both wind up in jail, no reason at all. I'm sure the police would be sympathetic and Taylor would certainly understand why we ended up inside his building at this hour."
"Early breakfast?"
"We're going to be careful, right?"
"Like little elves on Christmas Eve."
"Elves make the presents, they don't deliver them." Ann shifted in her seat and pulled her knees up to her chest. "Sorry to repeat myself, but I don't want to end up in jail."
"Then why are you doing this with me?"
"I'm doing it for Jessie."
"What?"
"I can't believe I'm going to confess this." Ann rubbed her face with both hands. "I don't want the book to be real."
"What are you talking about?"
Ann turned and looked out the passenger-side window. "A few months after Jessie and I met in that foster home, she said she knew when she would die. Said she'd seen it when she was a kid. She didn't know the day, or method, but she knew the month and the year. I told her she was crazy."
Ann hugged herself. "Over the years she'd bring the subject up, trying to tell me it was part of God's plan, and I mocked her for it till she gave up."
"Wow." Everyone had their secrets.
"If the book turns out to be real, how do I tell Jessie I'm sorry? Even if it's not real, how do I tell her?"
"She forgave you a long time ago." Cameron flicked his fingers. "It's gone."
"I know it. I need to believe it." Ann patted her knees once. "Shall we go?"
"I'll go in alone. You should stay on lookout—"
"We already decided to do this together; don't go back on me now."
"Ann, there's something I need to tell you first. We might be into something more dangerous than I thought. There's a guy who's been watching me."
"Sunglasses,