Chapter 5

The Late Librarian

At Kai's insistence, they went shopping.

Irene had thought about protesting, but Kai had made some good points. It was clear that the mission was going to take longer than planned, their clothes made them stick out like a sore thumb and sleeping in her dress hadn't improved Irene's feeling of well-being, so she relented, to Kai's delight.

Walking around in new jeans and a blouse did make her feel better. Better still, they didn't stand out at all when they entered the Harold Washington Library Center. A quick chat with the friendly receptionist got them their own escort to Hercule's office. The staff knew Dr Hercule Vincent had died and were only too happy to let his grieving relatives into his office to clear it out. Irene felt bad about the subterfuge, but only a little.

The office had not been disturbed since they passed through yesterday. The books were still where they stepped over them and the notes were still sticking out of pages and pinned to the wall. It looked, in short, like the office of a serious researcher.

To Irene, it seemed like an almost insurmountable task.

'Think of it this way, this is your chance to be a detective,' Kai said brightly. He was being remarkably perky now that he got his way. The fact that Harry Dresden had agreed with him that something about Hercule's death sounded wrong had made him quite convinced that he was in the right.

Irene wasn't entirely convinced that he was wrong.

'What do you mean?'

'You admire the Great Detectives,' Kai shrugged. 'Now you can be one.'

He did hit the nail on the head. She had always admired the Great Detectives. She had chosen to name herself after Irene Adler for a reason. But reading about it in a book and carrying out an investigation in real life were two very different things. In fiction it didn't matter if she couldn't solve the mystery before the culprit was revealed in the plot, but real life didn't have any authors who conveniently revealed the clues to her. She had to do the work herself.

The prospect was a little daunting.

Irene took a deep breath and went over what she knew. Which wasn't much.

She knew that Hercule had died crossing the road while reading a book, which was, unfortunately, a perfectly adequate way of getting oneself killed. It didn't rule out murder. If it was, the way it was executed allowed for thinking it was an accident. If it was a murder, the murderer knew how to cover his tracks.

Especially since the car in question had apparently sped off into the unknown and hadn't been seen since.

She also knew that Hercule was up to his neck in Fae-related research, which was at best a very strange coincidence considering everything that was going on with Die Lied der Erlking and the necromancers. And Alberich. Knowing he was here made her feel queasy, so she tried not to think about it too much.

'So, boss,' Kai grinned. 'Where do we start?'

Irene arched an eyebrow. 'What are you? My sidekick?'

'The Watson to your Holmes,' he agreed, still grinning. Was he taking this as seriously as he should? Or was this just him being very happy with his victory?

'We'll go through his research,' she said. 'You're good with computers, so you can take that. Look for anything that mentions Die Lied der Erlking, or the Erlking, or…'

'Summoning the Fae and necromancy,' Kai finished.

'Yes, that.'

Privately, Irene considered that any information about wizards would be just as welcome. There had been some in Hercule's aptly named Guide for the Visiting Librarian, but no pointers on what to do when said visiting Librarian found herself forced to work with one. Harry Dresden behaved like one of the good guys – meaning that he opposed the demonstrably bad guys – but at the same time the things he could do unsettled her. Speaking as one who had, not everyone could drive off Alberich like that.

Harry Dresden was more than just a little scary.

Just as well they were on the same side.

Seeing no obvious way to start, Irene simply picked up the book that was closest and started flipping through it. She did the same thing with the second, third and fourth book, before she finally found something useful in the fifth.

Even then, it wasn't something in the text that drew her attention, but rather what Hercule had used as a bookmark.

'Kai, look at this.'

Every Librarian knew that almost any piece of paper could make a bookmark. So long as it was thin and clean and could fit in a book, it could and would be used to mark a place. This particular makeshift bookmark was a shop receipt, dated from barely two weeks ago, listing three purchases – of books of course – made at Bock Ordered Books.

Irene's rational mind argued that it was hardly suspicious for a Librarian to frequent a bookseller's that dealt in rare volumes. Her instincts argued that it was yet another coincidence, one coincidence too many, in fact.

'What books did he buy?' Kai asked.

Irene scanned the list. 'Books about the Fae.' The book she had found the receipt in was one of them. 'But what was he doing with them?'

'Writing a book,' Kai answered promptly. He angled the screen in her direction so she could see the text Hercule had been working on. 'He theorised that the original place the Fae inhabit is the same as the place known in this world as the Nevernever, and that this Nevernever is linked to many different alternates, like the Library, only the Fae link the worlds by chaos instead of books. The more chaos there is, the stronger the links.'

As a theory, it wasn't a bad one. It would explain why worlds that were more slanted toward chaos had more Fae running around. She wondered if the dragons had a similar construct in place, but with order instead of chaos, but this wasn't the time to ask.

Kai looked troubled. 'Could it be this research that got Hercule in trouble?'

'I don't see how.' She knew that the necromancers were interested in one particular Fae being, but she didn't know why and she didn't know if Hercule's research had somehow brought him to the attention of the wrong people. 'We don't have anywhere near enough information.'

A knock on the door put a temporary end to their discussion.

The person on the other end didn't wait to be admitted; she opened the door and poked her head in. 'Sorry for barging in like this, but I heard Hercule's relatives were here and I just wanted to come and say how very sorry I am for your loss.'

The woman in the doorway was middle-aged, with horn-rimmed glasses on her nose and her greying hair in a messy bun. Irene made sure to look at her eyes, but they were a friendly brown, nothing of Alberich about them.

She relaxed. 'Thank you,' she said. 'It was such a shock.'

'I can believe that,' the woman agreed with clear sympathy. 'You poor dears. If there is anything you need, anything at all, please do let me know. I'm Mary Howard, I'm just across the way. My name's on the door.' She looked around Hercule's office. 'Oh, what a mess. He never put anything back, did he?'

'Famous for it,' Irene said wryly. That was certainly partially true, and growing more so with every minute she spent in this office. If there was any rhyme or reason to Hercule's filing system – and she used that term very loosely – she hadn't found it yet. 'I don't suppose you could tell us what exactly he was working on?'

The woman stepped into the office proper and closed the door behind her. 'The trouble always was getting him to stop talking about it long enough for me to ask if he wanted another coffee,' she said, smiling fondly. 'Hercule's interest was in faerie stories and legends. He wrote an entire work compiling as many stories as he could about the Sidhe, with detailed attention to where and when the stories originated and how they had influenced and had been influenced by the cultures they came from. I have a signed copy in my office, if you want a look at it?'

'Wouldn't he have it in here?' Kai asked.

Mary shook her head. 'He always said that he wasn't one of those pompous academics who needed to prop up their ego by beating their visitors around the head with his own work, although I think he was mostly making a point to Professor McDonald next door.'

'Who does have his work on full display?' Irene guessed.

Mary laughed. 'In a specially handmade bookcase with lights to highlight the titles. Though, to his credit, he has Hercule's book on the shelf. Professional rivalry, but very good friends as well. Hercule's death hit him hard. He hasn't been himself since then. I don't suppose a date has been set for the funeral yet? We would both love to come.'

'We'll let you know,' Irene promised. 'And if we could look at your copy?'

'Of course, my dear, of course.' She glanced around the room again. 'Has no one offered you coffee yet?' She snorted before Kai or Irene could reply. 'Of course they haven't. I'll get you a cup. No, make that a pot. I'll be right back.'

Kai looked at Irene. 'We aren't going to take her copy, are we?'

'No.' Professionally she could argue that blowing their covers that way was unwise, but privately she had some reservations about stealing from a woman who was so genuinely nice. Some book thieves we are. First Harry Dresden, now Mary Howard. She placated her inner Librarian by pointing out they would buy Die Lied der Erlking when this was all over. 'I thought we'd go and buy ourselves a copy at Bock Ordered Books.'

Which would give them the chance to have a nice chat with the owner at the same time.

Kai held up an envelope he had liberated from Hercule's previously locked desk drawer, labelled Emergency cash for the desperate Librarian. 'We can pay.' He peered inside. 'We could probably buy up most of his shop.'

'Don't tempt me.'

Mary was as good as her word, delivering first the book – showing that she had her priorities straight – before fetching the coffee and the cups. 'And if you're still here at lunchtime, I'll take you out for lunch,' she said before she left. 'But take your time. No one here is eager to take a dead man's office when there are others available. There's no rush. Take a few days. Take a week or more if you need to.'

Irene really hoped Coppelia would have sorted out a new Librarian-in-Residence by then. 'I had a question,' she said before Mary could disappear. 'Did Uncle Hercule have any borrowed books in his office that we should return?'

Mary had to think about that for a moment. 'Off the top of my head, I couldn't say. Not unlikely. He usually kept a list of what he borrowed and who borrowed from him. Used to be in the bottom drawer.'

Kai was already there. 'Found it. Thank you.'

'Good,' she smiled. 'Remember, anything you need, I'm just across the hallway.'

Irene took Hercule's book and opened it. It was a thick volume, but very comprehensive. It listed stories, individual Fae and what was known about them. The focus was mainly on Fae that were active in this particular world, but even so, as an addition to Library records, it was impressive. She wondered if Coppelia already knew about it.

'I might have to buy a copy for our own use,' she said. 'He was very good.'

What a loss for the Library.

Kai was about to get up to take a look for himself, but the door to the Library opened and he made sure to position himself between it and Irene instead.

'Oh, you're here.'

Bradamant.

'What are you doing here?' Kai demanded, instantly suspicious.

So was Irene. It wasn't that long ago that Bradamant had tried to muscle in on her mission, and had drugged Irene to try and get the glory at Irene's expense. Kai remembered it too; he looked at Bradamant with very badly concealed distaste.

'To see what was keeping you of course,' said Bradamant, looking suitably concerned and innocent.

Irene didn't believe a bit of it. 'What are you really doing here?' she asked. 'In the Language, this time.' She may have agreed to some sort of truce with the other Librarian, but she was not about to take any chances.

Bradamant looked offended. 'Really, Irene?'

Irene held her gaze. 'Yes, really. What are you doing here?'

'Fine,' she said. 'I am here because our superiors are worried that your mission is taking longer than planned. They wish to make sure that nothing has gone awry and to enquire whether you need assistance.'

Irene wouldn't mind some back-up. She just didn't want Bradamant. 'Assistance isn't necessary,' she replied briskly. 'The delay is due to the fact that the book was sold already. The shop had two copies, both sold yesterday. We have several leads on both, but it will take a few days.'

That wasn't a lie. It wasn't the whole truth either, but if Bradamant knew everything, she would very likely do what she had done last time. And somehow she would come out of it smelling of roses and Irene would be standing right in front of the fan when the shit hit. Been there, done there, kept the blot on my record, thank you very much.

'It sounds as if you could use some help.'

If I wanted to get stabbed in the back again, I would take you up on that. 'No, thank you.' Irene deliberated for a moment, but decided that this information was too important to keep to herself, so she added reluctantly: 'Something the Senior Librarians do need to know, though: Alberich is in this alternate. His goal for the moment appears to be the same book we are after. We have encountered him and escaped.'

Bradamant blinked. 'He is here?'

'Not in this library,' Irene said. 'But yes. And the last thing we need is more Librarians in the line of fire, so just go back and report that.' Because as much as she disliked Bradamant and the way she worked, she didn't want her dead either. 'Kai and I have established a safe base with Library wards, so we'll be fine. But it pays to be vigilant.'

Bradamant had gone a little pale. Unfortunately that didn't mean she considered herself beaten. 'But I could be of some use,' she said, rallying her wits and her courage, instead of scurrying back into the Library as Irene hoped. 'We could try to catch him.'

She must be mad, Irene decided. 'We barely escaped last time!' she said incredulously. 'He almost killed us. The best thing we could do was banish him from that alternate. We couldn't hurt him when he was in the room with us.'

'We know more about him now,' Bradamant argued.

'Yes, that he is dangerous.' She would rather avoid fights she couldn't win. 'My mission is to retrieve the book and that is what Kai and I are going to do.' They had agreed not to dislike each other so much. It was proving hard. Besides, this wasn't her dislike talking. It was distrust, and that was not as easily sorted.

They stared at each other for a while.

'You are not briefed,' Irene reminded her. 'I would have to waste valuable time to catch you up. We have already established some leads and contacts in the area. We will bring the book back, but someone needs to tell Senior Librarians where Alberich is.'

Bradamant didn't like it. Irene wouldn't be at all surprised if she sneaked back in later to try and get to Die Lied der Erlking before Kai and Irene got to it. She'd have to keep an eye out.

'Do you know what he wants with the book?' Bradamant demanded haughtily.

Irene bristled. 'The same thing all the other local necromancers want, presumably.'

With any luck their new wizard ally would turn up something useful. But she'd keep that under wraps for now.

Bradamant paled some more.

'We have work to do,' Kai pointed out. 'We should get on with it.' And so should you be, was what he didn't say but everyone heard.

Bradamant left in a huff.

'We haven't seen the last of her,' Kai predicted darkly.

It did indeed seem unlikely.

Just as likely as she was to get through this morning without further interruption. Bradamant had barely gone ten minutes when there was another knock at the door. This visitor did not let himself in, so Irene got up and opened the door.

'Good morning.'

The man on the other side of the door was not Alberich; Irene checked his eyes before she did anything else. Then she took in the rest of him and her alarm bells started ringing for entirely different reasons. The man before her wore a trench coat and a fedora. And while his eyes were definitely not Alberich's, there was something about them that she didn't like.

'Good morning,' he said. He didn't sound like he meant it.

'What can I do for you, Mr…' Irene trailed off expectantly.

'Grevane,' said the fedora-wearing necromancer, confirming Irene's fears. 'And you are?' He tried to peer over her shoulder.

'Irene Winters,' she said. 'Forgive me, may I ask why you are at my uncle's office? Did you know him?'

Enough people in this corridor worked with their doors ajar, so she didn't think he'd try anything here, not in broad daylight and with more than a dozen people within shouting distance.

He faked a smile. 'Acquaintances more than friends,' he replied, still looking over her shoulder rather than looking at her face. 'We shared an interest in the same areas of research. I lent him one of my books, and I don't mean to be insensitive,' the insensitivity increased with every word, 'but I really need it back.'

'My uncle kept a list with books he borrowed,' Irene said. 'Kai, can you see if Mr Grevane is on it?' She was almost sure he wasn't. 'What is the title of the book?'

It wouldn't be Die Lied der Erlking. If Dresden was right, this was the man who had bought the other copy at Bock Ordered Books. Besides, as far as she could tell, Hercule had never owned that particular book.

Grevane looked… uncomfortable. 'The Word of Kemmler,' he said after a brief hesitation.

Irene kept her face looking gently puzzled, or so she hoped. 'I'm not sure I've seen that particular volume in Uncle Hercule's things yet,' she said, wondering what in the world the significance of this was. Nothing good, judging by what was going on at the moment.

She looked over her shoulder.

Kai scanned Hercule's record of borrowed books. 'You aren't on this list,' he reported. 'And neither is The Word of Kemmler.'

It was just as well that Irene looked back at Grevane when she did, or she would have missed the look of murderous frustration that crossed his face. He screamed danger at her with everything but words.

She smiled again. 'We haven't yet sorted through everything,' she said. 'And, as you can see, my uncle left quite the mess. Is there somewhere we can get hold of you if we do find your book? An address or a phone number perhaps?'

They did have telephones in this alternate, didn't they?

Grevane smiled back at her, but it was a smile with a few too many teeth. Considering that he was known to murder people in cold blood and then reanimate their corpses to do his bidding, this was not reassuring. 'Or I could stay and help you look?'

Absolutely not.

'No, thank you,' said Kai politely.

The smile froze on Grevane's face. Irene suspected they had just made it onto his hit list. 'It's really no trouble, and I do need my book back.'

'I appreciate that, sir,' said Irene, adding the sir to grease the wheels a bit. 'But respectfully, I must decline your kind offer.' Even if there was nothing kind about it. 'We would like to take this time to go through Uncle Hercule's possessions together, to remember him. If you leave us your contact details, I promise you we'll get into contact with you just as soon as we find your book.'

If it is actually your book. Kai's theory that Hercule was murdered was starting to look more plausible with every passing minute. Irene had a sneaking suspicion that she was looking at his murderer. Anyone could drive a car with deadly intent. Just because this man was a wizard, didn't mean he had to kill with magic. Hercule might have expected that. An utterly non-magical attempt on his life might have come completely out of the blue.

'Listen, miss, you don't understand the urgency here,' Grevane said, no longer even pretending to be either polite or understanding. 'I understand it is an inconvenient time, but just because your uncle died doesn't mean the rest of us have to put our lives on hold. I need my book back, and I need it now.'

Kai's protective instincts kicked in. He wrapped an arm around Irene's waist and made sure to position himself between Irene and Grevane. 'It doesn't mean the world revolves around you either,' he snapped. 'You can leave your contact details with us and we'll call you if we find your book. Or you can just clear out right now and we'll just throw your book in the thrash if it happens to turn up. Your choice.'

The only reason they weren't dead yet was because they were in a very public space and their altercation was drawing attention. Several people in the neighbouring offices poked their head out to see what the disturbance was all about.

Clearly Grevane was not prepared to murder all those people, so he scribbled something on a piece of paper and thrust it into Kai's hand. Then he turned on his heel and stalked out the corridor.

Mary Howard was one of the people who had come to see what the fuss was all about. Her disapproval etched more lines in her face. 'Some people,' she tutted. 'What a nasty man.'

Nine out of ten for observation, but four out of ten for accurate description. Nasty must be the understatement of the year.

She pulled herself together. 'Do you know him?' she asked.

'I've seen him here once before.' Mary's nose wrinkled in distaste. 'Two days before your uncle died. Let me tell you, if he told you that he and Hercule were friends, he was lying through his teeth.'

'There was an argument?'

'Was there ever! That man shouted loud enough to bring down the roof.' Her disapproval grew into righteous indignation. 'Hercule, that dear man, never raised his voice, but what that man accused him of would drive a saint to murder.'

'And what did he accuse Uncle Hercule of?'

At this point Mary needed only gentle prompting to give Irene all the answers she needed. 'Book theft, if you'll believe it.' Irene didn't mention that Hercule had professionally engaged in that very activity. 'He marched in there and claimed that Hercule had his book, that he wanted it back and threatened to take further steps if he didn't hand it over right that minute.'

Somehow Irene sensed another book hunt in her immediate future.

Mary patted her arm. 'Don't you let it worry you,' she said. 'These people are all bark and no bite.'

Not this one. This one lets his zombies do the biting for him.

Mary insisted on giving them more coffee and with something from the flask in her desk for medicinal purposes in it before she left them to it again. The medicinal coffee indeed went down a treat.

'The other book could be the key to solving this,' Kai remarked.

Irene couldn't disagree. 'I think we should find it before Grevane does.'

So they turned the office upside down in search of the book. It wasn't there. Kai unearthed a secret compartment in Hercule's desk and another in the bookcase against the far wall, but both were empty. Irene even opened the door to the Library to see if Hercule had left it on a shelf in the room where the Traverse came out, but The Word of Kemmler wasn't there either.

A quick look through Hercule's notes didn't turn up any clues. 'Maybe he never had the book and Grevane only thought he did,' Kai suggested.

Possible. 'Or he's hidden it somewhere.' But if so, why not in the Library? That's what Irene would do. Either that or… 'If you wanted to hide a book,' she said, grinning at the brilliance of the idea, 'where would you hide it?'

He got it. 'Among a lot of other books. But not in this library. Someone might check it out and walk off with it. And it isn't in the Library.' He thought about it some more, and then grinned too. 'It's in a bookshop.'

Irene nodded. 'I think it is time we paid a visit to Bock Ordered Books.'

Next time: bookshop shenanigans.

Reviews would be appreciated.