Page 17 of Booked for Murder

“We can’t be sure where we might find the truth. Senator Godrin frequented your library, Miss Asurella. Should there be any secrets lurking within its walls, I will find them.”

“I see.” I did, too. Once Bradley decided he was going to do something, for better or for worse, he did it. While the library paid me well, especially for my purported rating, it didn’t pay me enough to make a run from a determined adept. As such, I would have to continuing playing the game. “Then I wish you the best of luck with your investigation. Mr. Tawnlen, how do you wish for me to proceed?”

“Do what you can on the renovation work and begin making an acquisition list for us. At least one of us can get something done. If you need us, we’ll likely be at the branch answering even more questions.”

“I do have a question, Miss Asurella,” Bradley stated, and he regarded me through narrowed eyes. “Have you ever interacted with Senator Godrin?”

“No, of course not. My rating was insufficient for his needs. If we were aware the senator was coming to the branch, I would busy myself elsewhere, usually in a different section of the library. He made his preferences known before I was hired, and we do try to accommodate our regular patrons.”

“At any point, did you resent his behavior?”

While I wanted to roll my eyes at the question, I remembered an important fact: Bradley liked Godrin, and he had every reason to doubt my sincerity. When I’d been his bodyguard, I hadn’t liked the senator because he viewed me as a lesser being because my parents hadn’t been adepts, but I was. To him, I was far more of a monster than men like him could ever be.

And that was ignoring my skills with exsanguination.

The truth might add to the suspicions pointed in the direction of my fellow librarians, but if I lied, the truth would eventually catch up with me. “No. Of course not. Frankly spoken, sir, it was very much a blessing. On a good day, he was a difficult man. We’ve discussed it before. Most viewed my low rating as a benefit in this specific case.”

“Do you feel any of the librarians or other staff at your branch would have cause to kill Senator Godrin?”

My boss straightened, and he scowled. “Excuse me, sir!”

“It is a valid question, Mr. Tawnlen, and while I appreciate your willingness to defend your employees, this is a question I’ve posed to every single one of them. Why should I give Miss Asurella any special treatment?” Years of training and practice helped me keep my expression calm despite the scorn in Bradley’s voice. “The question stands.”

“For all the various politicians create a certain amount of work and trouble for us, sir, they’re still our patrons, and they bring a certain amount of prestige with them. Because of them, we have a library. We are far more grateful for that than we are annoyed they can turn a day upside down on us. I can’t think of anyone on the staff who would want to drive away our best patrons—and for all he has opinions about people like me, Senator Godrin has been a good and frequent patron.”

“If you had witnessed his murder, what would you have done?” Bradley asked.

Beyond murder the murderer and add a little extra bloodshed to the mix? I’d definitely do a better job of painting the library crimson. I played dumb and confused, furrowing my brow and taking a few moments to consider his question. “I don’t know, sir. It would depend on what actually happened, I suppose.”

“You’d beat the bastard with your purse,” my boss muttered.

Despite the severity of the situation, I grinned. “That’s true, I might, especially if I happened to have a few books in it. But I don’t bring my purse to work every day, especially not if I have to carry Ajani.”

“Her carrier becomes your purse, then, although we all know you love that cat more than life itself. Anyway, when don’t you have books in your purse? I’ve even seen you stuff books in Ajani’s carrier before.”

I considered that. “That’s a good point. Okay. If the person was in range of my purse, I would likely attempt murder through blunt-force trauma involving my purse.”

Bradley’s brows shot up. “May I see this purse?”

I pointed at the leather bag I kept near the door, which had my new book to read in it. Since the cat carrier was nearby, I pointed at it, too. My ex-boss went to the bag, lifted it up, and grunted his surprise. “What’s in here? A bowling ball?”

“One book to return to the library, one book to read, and my wallet and other purse stuff.”

I almost hoped he checked through my purse and discovered my collection of feminine hygiene products. That’d teach him to rummage through a woman’s things.

To my disappointment, he took me at my word, and he set my bag down. “Well, that was educational. I should beware of women with large purses. They might be weapons.”

“I’d also be wary of a woman in heels. She’s wearing weapons on her feet.” My medical boot made wearing heels impossible, but I’d done my fair share of practicing how to best stab an asshole with a stiletto of the shoe variety. “Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?”

“I think that’s everything we needed,” the cop answered, heading for my door and shooting Bradley a glare. In true Bradley fashion, he ignored the cop’s ire. “We’re sorry to have bothered you so early in the morning, Miss Asurella.”

“It’s no problem,” I replied despite having wanted to do something—anything—other than deal with my ex-boss. First thing in the morning or otherwise.

All I could do was hope my flimsy disguise stuck, and that he couldn’t see through my glasses, longer hair, and the other little changes that differentiated me from the woman I’d once been.

I must have done something right. Bradley cooperated with the police officer and left my home, taking the little peace of mind I’d reclaimed with him when he went.

Six