Jack shook his head.
“A bunch of fictional characters have been wandering around the library for at least thirty years?”
Jack shook his head again. “Oh, much longer than thirty years.”
Stella’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously?Howis that possible?”
Jack looked around as though checking to ensure they were alone. Then he whispered, “I’ll show you.”
“Stella!” a voice called from behind them.
Vicki had come in through the back door, and Dan was close behind. Vicki’s unruly red hair hung around her round cherub face. The summer heat reddened her cheeks, and her green eyes were bright and alert. Her blue cat’s-eye glasses matched her skirt, and her white sleeveless top was dotted with tiny strawberries. She hurried toward Stella and waved good morning as she crossed the foyer. Dan, with his sensible ironed slacks, polo shirt, and dress shoes, hustled to keep up with Vicki’s quick pace. A leather satchel was slung over his square shoulders, and a pair of glasses bounced against his collar as he hurried along.
“How’s Arnie?” Vicki asked.
“I tried to call him,” Dan said, “but I guess he doesn’t have his phone.”
Vicki scrunched up her face at him. “Of course he doesn’t have his phone. He’s in theICU,” she said slowly as though the idea of Arnie feeling up to using the phone was ridiculous.
Dan shrugged. “My sister had a baby and was texting and posting Instagram photos a couple hours later.” Vicki looked astonished.
Stella gave them the same update she’d given Ariel and finished with, “Once you two get settled, I’ll probably head to the hospital to check in.”
“Of course, of course,” Vicki said. “We’ll be a-okay here. Nothing to worry about, right, Dan?”
“Right,” Dan agreed. He reached out his hand toward Jack. “Hey, I’m Dan.”
Jack shook his hand. “I’m Jack. Nice to meet you.”
Vicki waved. “I’m Vicki. Are you Stella’s boyfriend?”
Stella made a choking sound in her throat. Jack patted her on the back and chuckled. “No, I’m a friend of Arnie’s.”
“A friend of Arnie’s is a friend of ours. Where are you from?” Vicki asked.
“Ohh-kay, Vicki, Dan,” Stella interrupted, “thank you both for coming in. Let’s walk through what I’ve already done today and then distribute tasks. Sound good?”
“Walk with us to the kitchenette and talk,” Vicki said. “I need to drop off my things and put my lunch in the fridge. Nice to meet you, Jack! Dan, come with us.” Dan obliged.
“I’ll be right back,” Stella said to Jack and he nodded.
A few minutes later, after Vicki and Dan dispersed into the library with their task lists, Stella returned to the circulation desk where Jack waited. “You wanted to show me something?”
He hesitated. “Any chance Vicki or Dan is going to pop over?”
Stella’s eyebrows lifted. “Are you about to show me something they can’t see?”
Jack straightened. “This is Arnie’s secret and his responsibility. It’s above my pay grade, so to speak, so I shouldn’t even be telling you, but after everything that’s happened, you deserve to know. It isn’t meant for everyone, but I know Arnie trusts you.”
“Evidently not enough to tell me himself,” Stella grumbled.
“He was going to. I don’t know why he kept waiting.” Jack opened a bottom drawer of the circulation desk. It was a drawer Stella had opened hundreds of times, but the only thing Arnie stored in it were old library files.
Jack grabbed a few flimsy files, stacked them on the counter, and then knocked on a metal piece that wasn’t the bottom of the drawer but made it appear as though the drawer was empty.
“What’s that?” Stella asked.
Jack detached the metal divider, revealing hidden items stored beneath it. Stella held her breath and peered over his shoulder.
