Page 73 of Obsessed in Blood
“But why?”
“Maybe it’s more than just these two libraries. What if they put that in every library?”
He racked his brain. “Some type of ruse, a misdirection.”
She nodded, pacing up and down the aisle. “I suppose it depends on when it was done. But think about it. Devon’s father had traveled here to discuss this book. We know he met with Philipe Renaud. Then, on their way home, they have a fatal accident. What if it spooked Philipe?
“Whatever was in that book just became dangerous. So, he needs to hide it, but he’s a Renaud, right? You’ve told me dozens of times how important their role as Keepers of Knowledge is to them. So, he can’t destroy it, and he can’t remove it from the inventory.”
Lucas stumbled out of the stacks to a sitting area. “If the book was added to the Los Angeles library it’s possible he did the same in every library. He adds the book to the inventory and then immediately records it out for restoration.”
He dropped into a chair, and Ginger sat on the arm, taking the box from him. She smoothed back his hair while he closed his eyes, grateful he’d brought her with him. Not just for her insight but her ability to calm him. “He’s made it impossible to determine which library the book is in.”
“And I doubt it’s in any of the restoration rooms.”
“He would have hidden it somewhere in the inventory, but where?”
“Do you think he’s the only one who knows?”
That was an excellent question. If the book held secrets so important others would kill to keep it hidden, it would go against everything a Renaud believed to hide it away forever. That was the purpose of the libraries in the first place—to share all knowledge of their history. Was it possible a Renaud, or more than one, forgot that? Or was paid enough to overlook it?
“We have to believe there’s at least one other that knows. If he kept it to himself, he’d leave some form of breadcrumb so his family would eventually discover it. How do we even begin the search? I’ve built a list of his known friends from over the decades. My original idea was to speak with each of them and see if I could track down Philipe.”
She handed him the box with the note in it. “I don’t know what your plan was with the curator, but maybe this is a good starting point.”
He stood, opened the lid, and stared at the note. “Will you be alright by yourself?”
“I’ll stick to the second floor, but if I get bored, I’ll be in the tea room.”
He smiled. “Remember, no sugar in your tea.”
She grinned. “I know—sacrilege!”
He kissed the top of her head and went in search of a custodian, who he found scurrying down a row of stacks. “Can I bother you for a moment?”
The custodian turned, and his harried frown turned into a smile. He was of a slight build with wire-rimmed glasses and a timeless face. “Of course, I didn’t see you. I tend to get distracted. What can I assist you with?”
“I was wondering if the curator was in. I’d like to ask them about this book and how much longer it will be in restoration.”
The custodian took the box, read the spine, then looked inside. “My, we haven’t used this form for quite some time.”
“Really? Do you know how long?”
The vampire scratched his head. “At least fifty years. Maybe more.” He placed the note in the box. “Now as to the curator. She was in a meeting when I last stepped by her office. But let me see what I can find in the inventory files. Follow me.”
It was the logical next step, and it provided a reason why he’d want to see the curator for a deeper explanation.
Lucas followed the custodian to a door on the same floor that opened into a massive file room. “I thought you might keep the files in a database.”
“For everything from the 1980s on, everything is immediately added to the database. We’ve managed to scan and transfer previous files back to the early forties. It’s a continuing project that will take another few years to complete, but it’s just as easy to come to the file room. Most of our requests still come through paper forms.” He stopped at a computer and glanced at Lucas. “The majority of the vampire community prefers paper over computers.” He looked over his glasses with a curious gaze. “I assume by your earlier statement you’re not one of those.”
Lucas chuckled. “No. I prefer to keep step with the times.”
The custodian nodded his head and sat in front of the computer. The software was hi-tech and seemed odd surrounded by the files and cabinets that were painstakingly free from dust. The vampire typed in the name of the book and then frowned. “That’s interesting. Our rarest books are typically listed in our main inventory.”
“And that’s unusual for what we’re looking for?”
He shrugged. “Not necessarily, but items being restored are typically added to the database once work has begun on them. It’s not surprising for some of the oldest books to require time to care for, but I have to say, fifty years is somewhat unheard of. It’s possible the file was added incorrectly, but that would be even more unusual.”
