Page 9 of Witch and Tell

Now I recognized the man—he was the construction worker I’d seen arguing with his boss at Darla’s Café. Why wasn’t he at work?

“Yes, it’s a library. Crazy, isn’t it? Looking for something to read?” If I remembered right, he slept in his van. He probably wanted somewhere to hang out with proper upholstery. Or maybe he’d heard about our claw foot bathtub.

“Do you have some kind of program for visitors?” he asked.

“We have cards for temporary residents. You’re working on the Empress, right? Come in to Circulation, and I’ll set you up.”

Head craning to take in moldings, paintings, and books, he followed me to the mansion’s former drawing room.

“Have a seat.” I turned to the computer monitor. “What’s your name?”

“Cliff Montgomery.” He slid his driver’s license across the desk.

I stopped typing. “Like the actor?” Dylan, our intern obsessed with Hollywood’s golden age, would love this.

“Uh-huh.”

Up close, Cliff had his namesake’s craggy brows and sharp jaw, but that’s where the resemblance ended. This Cliff was a dirty blond, and his eyes were small enough that they almost disappeared when he smiled. In contrast, his mouth was broad and expressive. He wore work clothes—bright orange T-shirt, canvas pants, boots—but they were clean, not caked with drywall dust as I’d have expected. Maybe he’d changed before he came up here.

“I have to apologize,” he said.

“For what?”

“I saw you at the café. You overheard my discussion with Tyrone.” His shook his head. “That should have never happened.”

For a moment I considered pretending I hadn’t heard, but he was being honest, so I was, too. “Don’t worry about it. We all have disagreements with our bosses from time to time. How are things going at the Empress?”

He scooted his chair forward. “It’s just a personality thing. Nothing more. He’s so flashy, and I’m more down-to-earth. Know what I mean?”

Again, I stopped typing and looked at him. He really wanted to set me straight. “I can see how you might be different people.”

“Exactly,” he said, clearly pleased I agreed. “I’m a simple man. He’s not. We don’t understand each other, that’s all.”

Why was he telling me this? “I see.”

“If I can add a warning, he’s a player. I’m only saying so because you remind me of my sister, Mindy. You’re an attractive lady—”

“Thank you.”

“—and I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to make time with you. Watch out.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

I could have told him I had a boyfriend, but I couldn’t honestly say that anymore. Sam and I hadn’t officially broken up, but what else is it when someone refuses to respond to your texts and calls? “Noted.” I walked to the printer to pick up his temporary card and handed it to him. “Now, what would you like to read?”

“There’s something else.” He sat straight. “I’d be careful about believing what he says.”

“What do you mean?”

“He has some odd ideas, that’s all. Take whatever he says with a grain of salt. He’s been involved in shady activities.”

Curious. “What kinds of activities?”

He looked around, then leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Let’s put it this way: he has a record.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “Have you worked with him long?”

My question seemed to fluster Cliff. Finally, he met my eyes. “Long enough.” He tucked the card into his wallet. “Now, what do you recommend?”

Normally the books would have flooded my head with titles. I would have known if he favored thrillers, preferred history, or even had a secret yen for romance novels. But this morning, they were silent.