On Borrowed Time Read Online Free Page B

didn’t start wagging. Lindsey bounced on her feet in the hallway. She was really ready to move away now and go search for her brother.
    â€œEmma—” Lindsey began, but the medical examiner pushed past her into the room. “Hi, Dr. Griffiths.”
    He gave her a surly nod and Lindsey reminded herself that he wasn’t a bad guy. He liked to read travel books about Europe and dreamed of backpacking there one day, but Lindsey suspected that his pteromerhanophobia held him back and “one day” might turn into “never” if he didn’t get over his fear of flying.
    â€œGo ahead and move the people in the library,” Emma said to Kirkland.
    He nodded, looking reluctant to leave. Dr. Griffiths, a small man with a bald head, which was surrounded by a gray fringe that stuck out all around his head just like the bushy gray mustache over his upper lip, gave Kirkland no choice as he elbowed the rookie out of the way.
    â€œAgain, Plewicki?” Griffiths asked as he snapped on his own blue gloves. “What is it you people don’t get about being a sleepy coastal community?”
    â€œSorry, Al,” she said. She held her hands wide. “What can I say? Briar Creek has become a hot bed of murder and intrigue.”
    Griffiths snorted and the hairs on his mustache fluttered. Lindsey turned away. She had no interest in watching this. Kirkland was rooted to the spot, obviously fascinated to see what would happen next.
    â€œCome on.” Lindsey nudged him with an elbow. “You think this is interesting? We have patrons we have to disconnect from their Internet session. You may want to keep your Taser handy.”
    â€œSeriously?” Kirkland asked, his eyes wide.
    â€œHaven’t been in the library at closing, have you?” she asked.
    â€œNo, ma’am,” he said.
    â€œWell, follow me, you’re in for a treat,” she said. She wondered if he could tell she was being sarcastic. A glance at his face, which was eager, made her suspect that he could not.
    Lindsey saw Officer Wilcox standing by the door and noted that he and Kirkland exchanged nods. Reassured that everyone was following the same game plan, she cleared her throat, preparing to address the library.
    â€œEveryone, I’d like to have your attention,” she said. A few people turned in her direction, but for the most part she was ignored. Lindsey sighed. She really needed to consider a public address system. “Everyone, please, we have a situation. I need you all to move into the story time room for a few minutes while we get everything sorted out.”
    Her voice sounded strained even to her own ears. She forced a reassuring smile. “The officers will escort you back there, and you should be free to go in a matter of minutes.”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” demanded Peter Schwartz. He was a crotchety older gentleman known for complaining about everything from the hardness of the chairs to the quality of the air-conditioning. And yet he came to the library every day to read the newspaper of which he was not a good sharer.
    â€œThe officers will explain in a moment,” Lindsey said. “Please, if you’ll follow me.”
    â€œNo, I’m not going,” Mr. Schwartz said. “Unless the building is on fire or there’s a bomb in it, I’m going on with my day.”
    He snapped open the newspaper he’d been reading and returned to the sports page as if he were oblivious to the people around him moving reasonably to the back room.
    â€œI’m sorry, sir, but our orders are to have everyone gather in the back room,” Kirkland said.
    Lindsey admired his diplomacy. She knew from several accidental fire alarms over the past few years that there was always one customer who refused to budge, as if whatever they were doing was so much more important than avoiding being burned to death. It boggled.
    She glanced at the bank of Internet computers