Valentine Murder Read Online Free Page B

wall for support. She was still dizzy and trembling with shock.
    The police, she thought. I’ve got to call the police. But she found herself hesitating, reluctant to move. Instead, she watched Zoe, who was pointing at something in the book. It must be funny—the two little girls were giggling.
    Somewhat shaky on her feet, Lucy stepped away from the wall, determined to get control of herself. Now that she was back upstairs in the sunny new addition, she could hardly believe what she had seen in the basement. She felt a little surge of hope. Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe it wasn’t too late for Bitsy. The rescue squad had defibrillators and all kinds of life-saving equipment.
    Walking carefully so as not to alarm the mothers and children, she went to the office. There she picked up the receiver and, using all her concentration, punched in 9-1-1 with a trembling hand.
    â€œTinker’s Cove Rescue. This is a recorded line.”
    â€œThere’s a . . . we need help . . . fast. No, I think it’s . . .” stammered Lucy, furious at herself because she still couldn’t seem to form a simple sentence.
    â€œTake it easy,” said the dispatcher, trained to handle emergencies. “What’s your name?”
    â€œLucy Stone.”
    â€œWhere are you, Lucy?”
    â€œThe library.”
    â€œWhat’s the problem?”
    â€œBitsy Howell—I think she’s been shot.”
    â€œI’m sending an ambulance and I’m notifying the police. Have you been trained in CPR?”
    â€œI can’t,” said Lucy, thinking of Bitsy’s bloody body.
    â€œThat’s all right,” said the dispatcher. “Just stay calm. Help will be there in a few minutes.”
    â€œI can already hear the sirens,” said Lucy, remembering that the police and rescue station was just around the corner from the library.
    â€œCan you open the doors? Make sure they can get in?” asked the dispatcher.
    â€œI can do that,” said Lucy, who had clung to the dispatcher’s calm voice like a lifeline. “Thank you.”
    She went to the front door and hailed the paramedics, who were stepping out of the ambulance. She held the door open for them and they hurried in, carrying cases of equipment. Lucy pointed them to the stairs.
    As they rushed through the children’s room the mothers and children looked up in surprise.
    Oh, dear, thought Lucy. I’ll have to give them some sort of explanation. She crossed the circulation area and leaned against one of the low children’s bookcases for support.
    â€œWe’ve had an accident. There won’t be any story hour today. I think we’ll have to close the library.”
    â€œWhat is it?” asked Juanita Orenstein, Sadie’s mother. “Can I help?”
    The others looked at Lucy expectantly, curious about the sudden change in plans.
    â€œI think it would be best if everyone just left,” said Lucy, thinking of the children.
    â€œThat’s too bad,” said Anne Wilson, who was firmly holding each of her three-year-old twin boys by the hand. “We’ll have to wait ’til next week, fellas.”
    â€œThat’s right, come back next week,” Lucy told the mothers, who began gathering up their belongings and zipping their children into snowsuits.
    â€œLucy, you look terrible,” said Juanita, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “What’s going on?”
    â€œBitsy’s badly hurt,” Lucy whispered.
    â€œOh, no!” Juanita’s big brown eyes were full of concern. “What happened?”
    â€œI’m not sure.” Lucy was already regretting giving in to the impulse to confide in Juanita and arousing her curiosity. “Could you do me a favor and take Zoe home with you? I don’t know how long I’m going to have to stay here.”
    â€œSure,” said Juanita. “Take as long as you need—I don’t have any plans for