Page 71 of Booked for Theft

“Unless there is still fuel in the tanks.”

“If there’s fuel in the tanks, someone didn’t do their job closing it down properly. It’s a risk we’ll have to accept.”

“Or we check if there’s fuel in the tanks, rig it to go off, and have the fire spread to the warehouse.”

I considered the map. “If the gas station were to go up in an inferno, it’s close enough to the warehouse that it might go up, too. I mean, it’s right next door. The only thing separating them is a tiny stretch of parking lot so people could access the car wash.”

“We could always add fuel to the tanks while under illusions, then light the whole thing up and take the warehouse out that way. If we use the same fuel we put into the gas station, then they might not think anything of the accelerant being present in the warehouse. It could be a part of the explosion.”

“Gas fumes are explosive,” I murmured.

“And if it looks like there are pyromaniacs playing with the gas station, then the government might buy what we’re selling.”

“My momma told me I’m not allowed to burn the government down,” I muttered.

He snickered. “What your momma doesn’t know won’t hurt her. I don’t think my momma wants me to burn the government down or help run it, but I am going to do what I want, Janette.”

“I really don’t think my momma wants me running the government. I will do irresponsible things with it, including up the library budget across the country and implement education programs to bring the United States back up to speed on actual history. Don’t get me started on the rest of it.”

“So, we’re agreed. We are going to be indulging in rebellion, and we will be doing a lot of things our mothers would prefer we didn’t do.”

“If your mother didn’t want me to run for office, she shouldn’t have put my name in the hat,” I replied in a solemn tone.

“My mother definitely doesn’t want me running for office, else she would have put my name in the hat. She did not. I checked to be certain. She’s concerned I might take over if given access to the Treasury.”

“If you’re given access to the Treasury, you might actually make the government profitable,” I muttered. “Mr. Midas.”

“You’re going to call me that for a while, aren’t you?”

“I could be convinced to call you something else with the appropriate bribe.” To make it clear I wanted to have tub time, relaxation, and extracurricular activities afterwards, I leered at him. “Rare books for my collection might help your cause—especially if you steal some literary felony from your mother.”

“I’m sure my mother would be happy to give you a selection of literary felony.” He gestured at my phone. “Why don’t you call and ask her?”

I did as he suggested, pressing the dial button once I found her contact and putting the device to my ear.

“Is something wrong?” his mother answered.

“Yes, there is something wrong! You got how many books from the Library of Congress, and I have none of them?”

After a startled pause, she began to laugh. “Do you want some new books for your collection?”

“Desperately. New books that don’t have an insane price tag because they’re illegal to sell but legal to give to your future daughter-in-law as a present.”

She snickered. “I’ll pack a box for you and bring them over. Are there any specific books you’d like to read?”

I considered the list of books that had made it onto the felony list. “A Clockwork Orange sounds really interesting. I can’t figure out what it might possibly be about based on the title.”

“I have that one, but I ask that you let me borrow it from time to time to read it. I read it once every year or two.” She made a thoughtful sound. “I’ll bring over I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings for you, too.”

“Do you have a copy of Schindler’s List?”

“I do.”

Interesting. I’d be able to confirm if the books were the same. “I’d like to read that one, but I might give it back if you’d like. I’ll even invite you to come sit in my living room and read my copy of The Stand.”

“Bradley told me you’d gotten that. I have it on my digital reader, so you won’t have to worry about anyone damaging your precious book. I’d love to see it, though. I have a list of books you’ll enjoy. I have a copy of the banned book lists from a rather long time ago, so I’ll bring all the titles I have from that list for you. You’ll enjoy seeing the overlap between what was banned in the past versus what is banned now. I’ll bring the collection of overlapping books and the rest of the list on both sides for you to enjoy. That was the first thing I did when I got my hands on the collection.”

Perfect. “We will be going out to dinner with a few politicians on Friday night, but any other day should be fine for you to visit with a present of books.”