Death Overdue (Librarian Mysteries) by Mary Lou Kirwin

her death at around four A.M . That was a good half an hour before I came on the scene. So I think it was safe to assume that she was very dead.”
    “When you arrived what were you told had happened?”
    “That after a loud crash, said woman, Sally Burroughs, had been found under a bookcase full of books, which had fallen on top of her, so to speak.”
    “Indeed. And is that what it looked like to you?”
    “Yes, it did. However, in order to help the woman, the books and the bookcase had been taken off her, you know, to see if she was still alive. So I didn’t actually see her under the books.”
    “Very good.” The coroner looked down at his desk, then asked, “Were you able to ascertain how the bookcase had come to fall?”
    “Yes, it appears that the hook which attached said bookcase to the wall had been unhooked.”
    “So it fell by itself?”
    “It might have, but I rather doubt it. The bookcase stood in front of an old-fashioned door that led to the hallway and was locked. But this door had a transom at the top, which is where they are usually located, and this transom could have been pushed open and thus the bookcase could have been pushed from the hallway, if you see what I mean.”
    “I do indeed,” the coroner stated. “Please continue.”
    “Well, I don’t mean to repeat myself, but the top of the bookcase stood right in front of the transom, and the door itself was about six feet tall, so anyone who was tall enough or had use of a stool or ladder could have pushed with enough force to cause the bookcase to topple.”
    “So what you’re saying is that someone might have caused the bookcase to fall and killed the poor woman?”
    “Yes, that is a distinct possibility.”
    After thanking the inspector for his time, the coroner called Penelope Burroughs to the stand.
    “What is your relationship with the deceased?”
    “I am, I mean, I was her sister. I guess I still am.”
    “Are you the closest of kin?”
    “In a way. There is my mother, I guess she might be closer, but she’s not very compos mentis.”
    The coroner looked at her, his eyebrows sinking down over his eyes. “She’s not very what?”
    “She’s very muddled. She seems to forget from time to time that Sally has died. So I didn’t think she should come to this.”
    “Yes, I see. Did you find your sister in the library?”
    “No, I think it was Caldwell, the owner of the B and B. He was my sister’s significant other for many years, and he’s a really nice man. I think he was the first one to find her.”
    “Was anyone else there?”
    “Yes, that woman,” and here Penelope pointed to me. “Karen Nash. She was already in the library when I came in.”
    “Did you take the books off your sister’s body?”
    “I think I helped. It’s all rather a blur, but I would have helped, wouldn’t I have? You see we hoped that she was still all right even though it didn’t look very good. There wasn’t really any blood or anything. Just so many books. And she was lying so still, never moved.”
    *
    Next was Caldwell. He squeezed my hand as he stood to take the stand. I squeezed back and off he went. I knew he was nervous as he didn’t like speaking in public much.
    “State your full name.”
    “Caldwell Perkins, sir.”
    “Mr. Perkins, you are the owner of the B and B where the deceased was residing at the time of her death.”
    “Yes, she was one of my guests.”
    “But you had known her previously?”
    “Yes, for several years. Sally and I had run the B and B together.”
    “You were on good terms with her?” the coroner asked, looking over his reading glasses.
    “Actually, sir, I was on no terms with her—neither good nor bad. I hadn’t spoken to her in nearly seven years.”
    “And why is that?”
    “She ran off on me.”
    “Were you upset by this?”
    “Yes, I was at the time. Surprised, but also rather relieved.”
    “Why?”
    “Sally didn’t like running the B and B, and she made her feelings clear. I