Page 6 of Demon and the Raven

“No? Are you certain?”

“Stop being funny or I’ll deck you.”

“Threats of violence in the library?” I said, aghast.

“Tell me now.”

“Let’s see… Joanna’s the only one of us with an actual degree in library science.”

“Really?”

“Mine is in folklore, and I don’t have a master’s, just a BA. What’s yours in?”

“Archaeology, which, God, don’t get me started on why that seemed like a good idea at the time,” she huffed out. “But I don’t remember a degree being a requirement when I applied.”

“It’s not.”

“Then why did you mention it?”

“Because you were all…” I waved my arms around. “And you seem a bit tired.”

“I am. I’ve had a bout of insomnia lately, and when I do sleep, my dreams are wild.” She was rambling. “And yes, if I were rested, this would probably bother me less, but still… Please explain to me what that creature is doing here?”

“Again, she’s been here the longest. Think of it like tenure.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Our boss, the lovely Mr. Samuels, can’t stand her either, and yet…she remains.”

“I just—she tried to tell a girl today that the reference section was closed for renovations, so she couldn’t get her the book she needed on dinosaurs.”

“She could have given her a firsthand account about them, maybe have the kid come back and interview her.”

“Xander!”

“When I was little, she was still peddling that whole flat-earth theory.”

“Oh my God, you are not helping at all.”

“At least she believes the earth is round now. That’s a step in the right direction.”

She shook her head. “Why is she here?”

“You keep asking that question,” I pointed out.

“Because I’m at a loss. I overheard her telling a woman—who was threatening to have her fired, by the way—that she doesn’t even need this job as she lives quite comfortably due to her divorce settlement.”

“Your point?”

“First, I’m not surprised she’s divorced, and second, she doesn’t even need the job, so to me, that’s merely another reason to can her ass.”

“I don’t think you understand how things work around here, little lady,” I said, using my best drawly cowboy voice.

Her eyes narrowed. “If she can work anywhere, why here?”

“To spread the joy of reading, of course.”

Danesha pressed her lips together tight.