“Get over here, now!”
Marjorie was watching June across the library floor, her eyes narrow. “What was that stunt you pulled with the stripper?” she whispered when June joined her.
“I did that for you, Marjorie. It was the only way I could stop him performing at the hen do.”
“But in the process, you put the good name of Chalcot Library in disrepute. I’ll be a laughingstock at the next library managers’ monthly meet-up.” Marjorie fanned herself with a paperback. “Does anyone know it was you who sent him?”
“No one. I did it anonymously.”
“That’s something, at least. If the council found out, then we’d both be out on our ears.”
“You have to admit, it was good publicity for the library campaign, though,” June said.
“Hmm... So how was Gayle’s hen do?”
“It was fine,” June said, praying that Gayle hadn’t told her mum what happened.
“Well, I appreciate you helping me out. As a thank-you, I’ll make sure you’re invited to the wedding. Evening only, of course.”
“Oh, there’s no need.”
“Don’t be silly. I know you want to come.”
“But really—”
“This conversation is over. I have lots to do.” Marjorie turned to walk away, then looked back at June. “Just remember what I said.The council must never find out you had anything to do with that stripper or FOCL. If they do, I won’t be able to protect you.”
•••
For the rest of the week, June did whatever she could to help FOCL secretly. She researched other successful library campaigns around the country and forwarded their details via Matilda. When Marjorie went to do outreach on Wednesday morning, June plucked up the courage to have a search around her office in case she could discover any information about Mrs.Coulter, the management consultant. She didn’t find anything, but the adrenaline from her undercover spying made her jumpy for the rest of the day.
On Thursday, June was helping a patron with his online passport application when she heard a familiar voice behind her. She’d been avoiding Alex since their awful phone call and had skipped her Chinese takeaway on Monday night, so the sudden sound of him nearby made June’s skin flush hot. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that he was deep in conversation with Stanley.
“Did she say anything else?” Stanley was saying in a low voice.
“No, just what I told you already.”
“But what do you think it means? Should I—”
“Excuse me, miss?” The man June was assisting was staring at her. “What do I need to do now?”
“Sorry,” June said, her whole body burning with shame. Were they talking about her call to Alex on Saturday? It was bad enough that he’d found out how pathetic she was, but now Stanley knew as well. June kept her back turned to them as she helped fill out the man’s application, praying that Stanley and Alex wouldn’t notice she was there.
A few minutes later, she felt someone walk behind her.
“Hey, stranger.”
June couldn’t bear to turn around and see Alex’s pitying face, so she kept her eyes fixed on the computer screen in front of her. “Hi.”
“How are you?”
“Okay.” June typed something on the keyboard, hoping he couldn’t see that her hands were shaking.
“You didn’t come into the takeaway on Monday. I was worrying about—”
“I’m sorry, I’m just helping a customer here,” June said before he could finish. She heard a faint sigh behind her, and then a moment later she could sense that Alex was gone.
June finished and headed toward the desk. Stanley was sitting in his chair and June saw him glance at her as she walked past, but he said nothing. As she got back to the desk, Mrs.Bransworth came storming in through the front door.
