19. Bailey

Islumped in my chair, the wind completely knocked out of me. My hands and knees shook. I looked up at Carole, who had a fierce, defensive expression on her face. Katar looked ready to go after the detective to rip off his head.

"That's not going to happen," Carole said, her hand landing on my shoulder to give it a squeeze. "You're the last person in the world who'd ever steal the orc manuscript."

"Thank you."

Katar came over and stooped down in front of me, taking my hands and squeezing them. "Who else has access to the library, and is there any other way inside other than the front and back doors?"

"I have a key, as does every member of the board," Carole said. "Any of us could be the perp, but it's not Bailey."

He lifted his brow ridge. "You're suggesting we should be looking at you instead?"

Her face pinkened. "Not really, but I'm pointing out that anyone could have gotten inside and stolen the ancient text."

"They weren't picked up on the cameras," I said.

"We need to examine the footage ourselves and make sure no time is missing." Katar straightened, though he kept a hold of my hands. They were so cold. And my teeth chattered. He stroked my face. "I want to rage around the place, roaring."

That would make me feel marvelous, but it wouldn't solve this big problem.

I was going to jail. They'd lock me up and throw away the key. No one was going to believe I wasn't responsible for the theft. My grandfather, who I didn't even remember, would roll over in his grave.

"Who has access to the hard drive where the data's stored?" Katar asked, peering around the room.

"It's in the hallway closet." I shrugged. "Anyone could gain access, I guess. The storage door's locked, but I keep the keys in my desk drawer. I'm in and out of my office all the time. I try to remember to lock it when I leave, but most of the time, I forget."

I reached forward and slid open the drawer, gasping.

The keys weren't there.

Scooting my chair around Katar, I rummaged inside the drawer. "They were here yesterday. I needed more paper for my printer," I waved to it sitting on a low table near the window, "and this is where I keep it." I looked up at Katar and Carole. "I know I returned the keys."

"Someone was inside the library last night," Katar said, glancing toward the ceiling. "We were in and out, and they could've accessed the hard drive at almost any time. Wiped out any evidence they were here. Is there a backup?"

I frowned. "Maybe. Let's go look."

We left my office. The chatter echoing from the library sounded completely normal, which contrasted sharply with the new turn my life had taken.

"I should go back to the desk." Carole stared into my eyes. "Are you all right? Really? Because I can go put a note there and come back. I'm with you for as long as you need me."

What would I do without my friend? "I'm fine." Not truly, but as long as Katar kept hold of my hand, I would be.

She looked at me a bit longer before sucking in a breath and nodding. "Call out, and I'm bailing on the desk, okay?"

"Thanks." I brushed her hand that had returned to my shoulder. "I appreciate it. But you're only on the schedule for a few more hours."

"I'm here for as long as you need me." She smiled. "Remember, no job?"

Katar frowned, looking between us.

"Carole . . ." Actually, it wasn't my place to say anything.

"I inherited money from my family," Carole said breezily. "I don't need to work. But I can't sit around, you know, doing nothing but spend it. I volunteer here at the library as well as the animal shelter in town."

"She's amazing," I gushed. "And even more, you're a true friend."

"That I am." She bit down on her lip, clearly uncertain about leaving me.

"Go," I said. "Katar and I will do some investigating."

"Okay." Carole left, hurrying toward the front of the library.

We went to the storage closet door, finding it unlocked. "Maybe the detective took the key. I showed it to him months ago when the tome was stolen."

"Maybe." The frown hadn't left Katar's face. "Or maybe whoever was in the attic last night stole the key."

"The detective must've downloaded the camera footage months ago."

I nodded.

"I'll still notify him of this latest bit of evidence."

"He won't care. He's closed the case and named me the culprit."

Katar nudged me against the wall and gently cupped my face. "You didn't do anything wrong. We're going to prove it. And we're going to figure out who stole the book and make them pay for framing you."

"You think that's what this is?"

"All the so-called evidence the detective's counting on points to you, so I'd say yeah."

"Thank you for believing me."

Leaning forward, he kissed the tip of my nose. "Always."

I stiffened my spine, opened the storage closet door, and we stepped inside. I slid the bucket holding a mop and cleaning supplies to the left and waved to the shelf at eye-level on the right holding the computer that stored the images recorded on the many cameras covering the outside of the library. "We should've had cameras pointed at the book."

He nodded thoughtfully, his gaze on the hard drive. "You didn't?"

"Someone on the board said the outside cameras would be enough."

Katar froze and looked back at me. "Who?"

I tilted my head, trying to remember, but I couldn't. "I'm not sure. We can ask Carole if she remembers."

"Do you have a thumb drive?" he asked.

"In my office." I went and grabbed it, thankful to find it still there, and gave it to Katar.

He inserted it into the front of the hard drive and pressed some buttons.

"You appear quite at home with all this." I waved to the whirring device.

"I am" He shot me a grin. "I know what some might think. Orc. Kingdom far beneath the ground. Since the first orcs to emerge from below the ground wore loincloths and were carrying nothing but handcrafted swords, I don't blame anyone for assuming we're a primitive species."

"I wish I'd been there," I said wistfully.

"When we emerged?"

"Were you with them?"

"Yes, why?"

I grinned. "Because there isn't anything I'd like more than to see you wearing a loincloth and bristling with weapons."