Today's Reading
"I think she's funny," Lindsey countered.
"Inasmuch as sharpened knives are hilarious," Paula said.
Lindsey raised her hands in surrender. She knew there was no way Paula was ever going to agree with her about Helen.
"I'm going to keep the invitation open regardless," Lindsey said. "She's new in town and she's our writer in residence. She could probably use a friend."
She felt a patron approach from behind, and she moved aside so that Paula could help them. The woman was bundled in a puffy white coat with a pink-and-white-striped hat on her head topped by a huge pink pom-pom with a matching scarf looped about her neck.
"Can you believe she's here?" the woman asked. Her voice was high pitched with excitement as if she knew some juicy gossip and couldn't wait to share. Lindsey found that off-putting, but she didn't get a chance to answer as the woman plowed on. "That was H. R. Monroe, author of the Mallory Quest novels."
"We know," Paula said. She studied the woman as if trying to determine what she should say. No one liked spoilers, and maybe the woman didn't know the series had been concluded. "But she's working on something new now."
"Oh, that." The woman waved her hand dismissively. "She'll change her mind. She has to. The only thing she knows how to write is Mallory Quest."
Lindsey and Paula exchanged a glance. The woman had her mind made up, and there was clearly no debating with her. Maybe this was why Helen was so private outside of her residency. Perhaps she'd had her fill of fans and followers telling her what to do. That made perfect sense to Lindsey.
"I'm Jackie," the woman introduced herself, placing a stack of novels on the counter. Judging by the Friends of the Library stickers on the book covers, they were from the book sale shelf that the Friends maintained in the library lobby. One dollar per book was a bargain. "And I'm Helen's number one...fan."
There was a slight hesitation before the word fan, and Lindsey felt herself shift into high alert. There was something manic about Jackie's declaration that made her uncomfortable. Lindsey had dealt with a stalker of her own before, and she knew how fixated they could become.
"So, you've met Helen and she knows you?" Lindsey clarified. No need to panic. Probably Helen knew Jackie, and they were online buddies or something.
"Oh, yes, Helen knows me," Jackie said. There was something ominous in her tone that made the hair on Lindsey's neck prickle with unease. Something must have shown on her face, because Jackie threw back her head and laughed and added, "Relax, Helen and I go way back. When I heard she was going to be the writer in residence, I decided to come stay at the Beachfront Bed and Breakfast and see if I could meet up with her and give us a chance to catch up."
She winked at them, and Lindsey exchanged a concerned glance with Paula. This was not good. Jackie might be harmless, but the fact that she had followed Helen here was worrisome. This had been Lindsey's one fear when Carrie had proposed the writer in residence program. She hadn't wanted overzealous readers to take advantage of the author.
"Did you visit with her while she was here in the library today?" Paula asked. "Or register to attend her talk tomorrow?"
"No." Jackie looked annoyed. "I didn't want to interrupt her, and I missed the sign-up for her talk. But I'm certain she'll be happy to see me when we run into each other. Briar Creek is such a small village it would be impossible not to."
"I don't know," Lindsey said. "Helen seems to be a very private person."
"That's okay," Jackie insisted. "I told you, we go way back. I'm sure she'll be happy to see me."
Paula took the money that Jackie handed her and counted it. "Five dollars exactly. You're all set."
"Thanks." Jackie grinned and scooped the books up in her arms. "Byeeee."
Lindsey and Paula watched her step through the automatic doors and hunch into her coat against the cold winter wind that blew in from the bay. Jackie disappeared down the sidewalk, and Lindsey said, "We should warn Helen about her, don't you think?"
"I think we should mind our own business," Paula said. "Every time we don't, we end up in a murder investigation and it's very stressful."
...
