Chapter 15
I slept well. The vapor shower was more refreshing than usual. Even the coffee tasted better. I wasn’t saying it was all because of Frank and that kiss, but maybe that had contributed to my good mood this morning just a little.
Hard to be anything but happy after getting your toes curled.
I was even feeling grateful to Harry for his nonsense last night. After all, it had led to that pin drive and that strange piece of dried plant. Who knew where they might take us?
Dressed and nearly ready to go, my new Aetrean lizard scarf tied in my hair, I picked Harry up and smooched his face. “You want to stay home today or come to work with me?”
He stared at me like that was a dumb question. “Library, Mum.”
I nodded, turning him in my arms to hold him like a baby. “You get more attention there, huh? And besides, if you stay home, you’re all alone until I get back. Although I suppose I could put the screen on for you. The Nature Channel maybe?”
“No. Library.”
“All right, library it is.” I kissed his head before putting him down. I still had forty-five minutes before I had to leave. I put the Morning News Report on. Andrew Woolsey had been replaced by Kent Murakami. I didn’t know him, but he had a nice smile. I made another cup of coffee and punched in breakfast from the Instachef. Nothing fancy, just a scrambled egg bowl with sausage crumbles and diced potatoes topped with cheese.
Last night had given me an appetite.
While that processed, I did my makeup, swooping a hint of purple eyeshadow over my lids to match the color in my new scarf. I kept my diamond studs in and added a chunky purple beaded necklace, my purple cardigan, and purple woven flats.
Cute. Or at least as cute as this jumpsuit could hope to be. The Instachef beeped. I went back to the living area to eat and watch more of the news.
I was hoping they’d give an update on Woolsey, but they didn’t even mention him. They talked about the new botanical gardens tour that began today. In addition, they mentioned that the latest hydroponic agriculture crops had reached maturity and that new herbs and vegetables would be added to the starliner’s menus starting today.
That was kind of exciting. It was something special any time the new crops were ready. We had a large store of frozen, freeze-dried, and canned food items, but there was just something so good about having a variety of fresh produce.
The Agriculture Department rotated the crops according to their own specific schedule, so I had no idea what would be available. Didn’t matter. I was sure everyone on board was looking forward to something new.
I almost laughed when I realized that Frank was taking me to Luna tonight. Now I was really excited about seeing that menu.
I finished my breakfast, had a single piece of chocolade while I cleaned up, brushed my teeth, then found something to carry the dried plant to the library in. I went with a small, unused makeup bag. I kept the stem wrapped in the tissue and tucked it into the bag carefully before putting that in one of the big pockets on the leg of the jumpsuit.
I punched in a second order from the Instachef, this time a big salad with edamame beans, grilled chicken, red cabbage, and crunchy fried noodles with a sesame ginger dressing. For once, lunch was not an afterthought.
Harry and I arrived at the library a few minutes before opening, but I turned the lights on and went through my usual routine, put my lunch in the breakroom fridge, then retired to my office, keeping the door open so I could see if anyone came in.
I took the makeup bag from my pocket and put it in my top desk drawer. Not only did I need to photograph the plant and scan it in to start an image search, but we still had the new books from Aetrea to deal with.
I fired up my screen, logged in, and checked the translator. Overnight, the processor had translated and proofed sixty new books. Those would have to be catalogued by author, subject, and genre, then entered into the system.
Once that was done, I’d write up a library newsletter listing all the new books available. Books from other planets seemed to be a bit of a love-hate venture. Granted, they could be a little challenging. Idioms didn’t always translate, but I found a lot of the themes to be universal.
The more adventurous readers, those who devoured books like candy, were usually happy to get anything new. Slower readers, those used to more traditional fare, rarely wanted anything “off-planet,” as most non-Earth things had come to be known.
Once I got the newsletter sent, we’d get an influx of patrons. That always made me happy. I liked being busy.
Someone came in. I left my office and went out to greet them. It took about fifteen minutes to help them, then I went back to my office. I doubted the day would get any quieter, and I didn’t want to wait until my lunch break to scan the plant, so I did that immediately. I was careful not to touch it, fearing I might break it. With such a small piece to work with, I didn’t want to damage it in any way.
I laid it carefully on the glass, closed the lid, then set the scanner to run.
While the scanner did its thing, I stood by the door to watch for patrons. Harry was lounging in his charging bed, doing nothing except for looking adorable. He was exceptionally good at that.
Mrs. Finlay came in to put a larger study room on hold for Saturday so she could tutor a few students. I took care of scheduling that and helped her pick out a few new books for her own reading. When she left, I went back to my office. The scanner was done.
I opened the image on my screen. The 3D rendering was perfect. I saved it to my personal file, then uploaded it into the image search. I wrapped the plant back in tissue, replaced it in the makeup bag, and returned it to my desk drawer. I figured it was as safe a place as any to keep it.
There was no guarantee the search would return any results. Unless we were in planet range, we had no real connectivity beyond what was available on the ship. There were stores of data, but if the plant information wasn’t in those stores, there was no way of searching further until we reached the next starport and could access internet.
Even then, that wasn’t an assurance of an answer. The plant would have to come from that planet to be found, and I was thinking this plant was an Earth species. Unless Andrew had picked this up on one of our stops? Plants were nearly impossible to get through security, as they were strictly forbidden.
Could be he’d had special research permission, however. Or he’d snuck seeds on board. Those would be easier to smuggle, without a doubt. I had no way of knowing. This might be a wild goose chase.
I tapped the button to begin the search, closed my office, and returned to the main desk. “How’s your day going, Harry?”
He looked at me but said nothing. There was no one else in the library, so I was surprised he hadn’t answered me with even a meow. Unless someone had come in and I hadn’t heard them? I whispered to him, “Harry, is there someone else here?”
He opened his mouth in a silent meow.
I had no reason to be frightened, but the small hairs on the back of my neck went up. I turned, carefully scanning the stacks and study rooms. There were a few spots that couldn’t be seen from the front desk, so I walked around. My entire being felt like it was on alert.
Had someone seen us go into Andrew’s quarters last night after all? My pulse picked up. Cautiously, I went down one of the stacks to the reading nook. It was a separate area with plush chairs that, sadly, didn’t get used as often as it should have been, except for book club meetings.
A man I’d never seen before was standing there, looking at the map of the galaxy printed on the wall. He was in a navy jumpsuit, so some kind of general worker. His hands were in his pockets. How had I not heard him come in?
My mouth felt dry. I cleared my throat. “Can I help you?”
He acknowledged me but didn’t turn enough that I could see his name patch. “Space is awfully big.”
“Yes, it is.” A feeling of foreboding came over me. “Would you like a book about it? There are several I can recommend.”
“Not much of a reader.” He continued to stare at the map. “Whereabouts are we?”
Showing him would require me to go closer. Every primal instinct in me screamed not to. I listened and stayed put. “About two inches away from that planet, Aetrea, there on the right- hand side. The blue and green one that’s mostly blue. Looks sort of like Earth.”
He finally looked at me. “I only took this job because I thought it would help me and my brother reconnect. Now he’s dead, so that’s not going to happen, is it?”
I knew then who he was. “You must be Scotty.”
He nodded and looked away, sniffing.
“I’m so sorry about Andrew.” My trepidation waned, but only a little.
“Not many people are.” His mouth bent oddly. Like he was trying not to cry. “ASF said you were the last one to see him alive.”
I shook my head, keeping my tone soft and sympathetic. “No, I’m sorry, that’s not true. I didn’t see him. I dropped a book off at his quarters, but I had no idea he was there.”
He stared at me now, and I couldn’t tell if he was angry or on the verge of tears. Either way, I was very uncomfortable.
What would my mother have done in a situation like this? She’d been virtually unflappable. I swallowed and channeled my inner Dorthea. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
He dropped his head and shook it. Then he began to cry. “Why are you being nice to me?”
“Why wouldn’t I be nice to you? You’re a human being, and you’re grieving. You sit down, and I’ll go get you a cup of tea.” I didn’t wait for his answer, just headed for the breakroom and punched in a cup of English Breakfast on the Instachef. My hand was shaking slightly. I punched in three sugars, because I figured he needed some sweetness. I also thought about calling someone, but I wasn’t really sure who was available. Except for the ASF and I wasn’t calling them.
Then a few patrons came in. I exhaled as I stepped out of the breakroom to greet them. I lifted my voice a little louder than usual, so it would carry. “I’ll be right with you, folks. You can browse the ebooks we have available on either of those two big screens there, or I can help you in a few minutes. Always happy to make suggestions.”
The Instachef beeped. I picked up the cup and took it to the reading nook. Scotty was gone. I stood there a moment, looking at the spot where he’d been standing.
I did a quick circuit of the library, but there was no sign of him. I went back to the front desk and took a sip of the tea.
Had Scotty meant to hurt me? Cause trouble? Or was he just a grieving man feeling very alone in the vastness of space? I had no idea, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d had a narrow escape. From what, I couldn’t say, but I’d learned long ago to trust the feelings I got.
I lost myself in work, helping patrons and using the main desk screen to begin building the next library newsletter. It needed to be done, but it was also the best way to occupy my thoughts.
It almost worked, but my head kept going back to Scotty and the way he’d made me feel. Was it possible, despite what Frank thought, that Scotty was involved in Andrew’s death? I no longer knew what made sense and what didn’t.
Tonight, over dinner, I’d tell Frank about it and see what he thought. He was a very level-headed man. He’d have some insight, I was sure of it.
When Itzak came in, I felt better. Not just because I liked him but because I was no longer alone. I’d never felt that way in the library before. I didn’t like it. This was my sanctuary. My safe place. I wanted it to stay that way.
“Hi.” I saved my work and stepped away from the screen so he could log in.
“Hi, boss. How’s the day been?” Itzak asked as he clocked in.
“Steady. I might go finish the newsletter in my office. Easier without distractions.”
“I’m sure. Anything particular you need me to do?”
“I’ve already started a new batch of books in the translator, but the ones that processed last night need covers and interiors double-checked. Especially since I’d like to get this newsletter out by the end of the day. It’s sixty books. Can you do that?”
“No problem.”
“Thanks.” The translator occasionally put the wrong covers on the books. It seemed to happen more when titles shared the same or similar words. I appreciated Itzak doing it. I wasn’t sure I could concentrate on a job like that. I looked at my cat. “Harry? You coming?”
With a half-hearted meow, he got up, stretched, and followed. Once in my office, I checked to see how the image search was going. No result yet, which I’d expected. It was too soon. The plant was probably nothing.
Andrew had been a botanist, after all. Finding a plant in his quarters would be like finding a book in mine. I wasn’t going to be satisfied until I knew more about it.
My wristband vibrated. I looked down and smiled. Frank had sent me a message.
How’s your day going?
Good . I wasn’t going to tell him about Scotty until we were face to face. How’s yours?
All right. Looking forward to tonight.
Me, too. Still smiling, I thought about what I was going to wear. Probably my black shirtdress. The gold buttons and drapey fabric made it fancy, and it flattered my figure. What would Frank wear? A sport coat? Luna’s was on the dressier side. I think they required men to be in a jacket or the interplanetary equivalent.
It would be interesting to see him dressed up. So far I’d only seen him in work clothes or casual outfits. But then, the same was true for him about me.
With that realization, I was determined to look as good as possible.