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Kingston, who had snatched up a stack of books for reshelving, offered an apologetic smile and headed posthaste for the Thriller and Suspense section.

Hermione, a stout woman in her late 60s with piercing blue eyes and alarmingly red hair, was not so easily cowed. “Stanley couldn’t make it. He’s unwell,” she informed Ellery.

“I’m sorry to hear it. I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Personally, I suspect he’s afraid of crossing swords with Jane Smith.”

Ellery, who had reached the register and was in the process of counting cash, stopped to stare at the ring of watchful faces on the other side of the sales desk. “I don’t think he has to worry. Jane told me she’s, er, resigned her commission.”

This elicited gasps all around.

Hermione said, “I expected this.”

“What doesthattell you?” exclaimed Mrs. Ferris.

Mrs. Ferris was an on-again-off-again member of the Silver Sleuths. She was a small, wiry woman with curly gray hair and dark eyes. She was fond of cats, gardening, and true crime. She had seen every single episode ofDatelineand had a not-so-secret crush on Keith Morrison.

“I know what it tells me,” Ellery said. “She doesn’t feel welcome anymore.”

This was met by a rare and disconcerting silence.

“I’m not sure I understand why any of you would be crossing swords with Jane Smith? Especially here of all places.”

“Because she’s a fraud, dear.” Edna Clarence, a tall and stately blonde, was probably around the same age as Hermione, though she’d have no doubt denied it. She had only lived on the island a mere thirty years, not nearly as long as the other book club members.

“What do you mean, she’s a fraud? Since when?”

“Since forever, I imagine,” Nora said briskly. “I’ve always been skeptical of her origin story.”

“Her…origin story? I thought you were all pals. Partners in crime-solving.”

Hermione put in, “First she was married, then she wasn’t married. Whichisit? She could never seem to say.”

“Huh?”

Kingston, having shelved that stack of books in record time, returned to the desk. “Jane’s alleged discovery of a hitherto unknown work by Stephen Foster continues to raise doubts.”

“It passed the initial appraisal.”

“Says who?” Hermione demanded.

Which was a good point. What kind of professional standing did this document appraiser really have?

Nora seemed to read his mind. “Where did the Fairplay people find someone willing to authenticate such a potentially valuable document at a moment’s notice? Did Jane recommend this person? Perhaps the scam is more far reaching than we imagine.”

“I see.” Only too well. Maybe it was inevitable that their suspicions regarding the Foster fragment would lead to more widespread skepticism about Jane’s bona fides. At the same time, Jane hardly seemed like a master criminal.

He said, “Would she really take that kind of chance, though? Eventually, there’s going to be all kinds of testing done on the paper and ink and even the content of the document. It’s not like she could get away with something like that for long.”

“People do. People have,” Nora said.

“Okay, but in order to pull off that kind of hoax, wouldn’t Jane have to have experience committing forgery?”

“Who says she doesn’t?” Edna inquired.

“I agree. It’s very hard to believe,” Hermione said. “Jane always seemed far too timid a personality to attempt anything of a criminal nature.”

Nora’s sniff spoke volumes—and the entire library consisted of crime fiction.