Key Of Knowledge Read Online Free Page A

was starting with Zoe and Malory, in just a couple of months. Not only did she have to finish organizing and decorating her space in the building they’d bought, but she had to deal with ordering stock.
    She’d applied for all the necessary licenses, had already combed through publishers’ catalogues, fantasized about her sidelines. She would serve tea in the afternoon, wine in the evening. Eventually she would hold elegant little events. Readings, signings, appearances.
    It was something she’d always wanted to do but had never really believed she could accomplish.
    She supposed Rowena and Pitte had made it possible. Not only because of the twenty-five thousand in cold, hard cash they’d given her and the others as an incentive to agree to the quest, but also by putting her together with Malory and Zoe.
    Each of them had been at a crossroads of sorts the first night they’d met at Warrior’s Peak. And they’d made the turn, chosen the path to follow together.
    It wasn’t nearly as scary thinking of starting her ownbusiness when she had two friends—two partners—doing the same thing.
    Then there was the key. Of course, she couldn’t forget the key. It had taken Malory nearly all of the four weeks allowed to find the first. And it hadn’t been all fun and games. Far from it.
    Still, they knew more now, more about what they were up against, more about what was at stake. That had to be an advantage for this round.
    Unless you considered that knowing where the keys came from, what they did, and who didn’t want them found had absolutely nothing to do with finding one.
    She sat back, closed her eyes, and pondered the clue Rowena had given her. It had to do with the past, the present, and the future.
    Big help.
    Knowledge, naturally. Lies and truths. Heart and mind.
    Where one goddess walks.
    There’d been a goddess, a singing goddess, in Malory’s clue. And Malory—the art lover who’d dreamed of being an artist—had found her key in a painting.
    If the other two followed the same theme, logic dictated that she, the book lover, might find hers in or around books.
    â€œCatching up on your sleep, Dana?”
    Dana’s eyes snapped open, stared directly into Joan’s disapproving ones. “No. Concentrating.”
    â€œIf you’ve nothing better to do, you can help Marilyn in the stacks.”
    Dana pasted a sunny smile on her face. “I’d be happy to. Should I ask Sandi to take over the resource desk?”
    â€œYou don’t seem overrun with questions and requests.”
    And you don’t seem overrun with paperwork and administrative duties, Dana thought, since you’ve got so much time to crawl up my butt. “I’ve just completed one involving private enterprise and capitalism. But if you’d rather I—”
    â€œExcuse me.” A woman stopped at the desk, with her hand on the arm of a boy of about twelve. The grip made Dana think of the way Flynn held Moe’s leash. With the hope that she could keep him under control and the certain knowledge that he would bolt at the first opportunity.
    â€œI wonder if you could help us. My son has a paper due . . . tomorrow ,” she added with heated emphasis that had the boy hunching his shoulders. “On the Continental Congress. Can you tell us which books might be the most helpful at this stage of the game?”
    â€œOf course.” Like a chameleon, Joan’s cold fish of a face warmed into smiles. “I’d be happy to show you several sources in our U.S. history section.”
    â€œExcuse me.” Unable to help herself, Dana tapped the sulky boy on the shoulder. “Seventh grade? Mrs. Janesburg, U.S. history?”
    His already pouty bottom lip drooped even further. “Yeah.”
    â€œI know just what she looks for. You put in a couple of solid hours on this, you can ace it.”
    â€œReally?” The mother laid a