Moonshadows by Mary Ann Artrip Page A

of them? Or maybe both?”
    “Who knows? It certainly would be to their advantage—there’s a lot of money involved.”
    “Maybe they don’t need it,” Chelsea said. “And since they’ve scarcely kept in contact with your grandmother, maybe there’s still hard feelings.”
    Janet frowned. “Could be, but I’m betting on the contents of the will. Money, sudden riches, can do strange things to people.”
    “It didn’t to you,” Chelsea said.
    “But then I’ve always had it.”
    Chelsea took the last bite of waffle, raked her fork though the remaining buttery syrup and licked the tines.
    “True.”
    Janet got up, walked to the counter and picked up the coffeepot. She turned. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if Mr. Newkirk’s private investigator can find them.”
    Chelsea held up her cup for a refill. “The waiting’s going to be tough.”
    Janet nodded and poured the coffee.
    “In the meantime, you need to keep busy,” Chelsea said. “Speaking of which, there’s a Hitchcock film festival next weekend. Want to go?”
    “Oh, I don’t know.”
    “You love Hitchcock. Besides, it’ll take your mind off things for a while.”
    Janet smiled. “You’re right, as usual.” She slapped Chelsea’s hand. “I hate it when you do that.”
    Chelsea leaned back in her chair and smiled at Janet over the rim of her coffee cup.
    “I missed you those days you were gone.” Her eyes misted. “I’m sorry your grandmother died, but I’m glad you’re back.”
    “We’re quite a pair,” Janet said. “Lucy and Ethel—that’s us.”
    “With that hair, you’re Lucy all right, and always getting half-baked ideas.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like dousing Miss Austin with water to see if she’ll melt.”
    “I bet she would.” Janet frowned. “But I can’t quite see you as Ethel Mertz.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, then you’d have to be married to Fred. That, my dear friend, is way beneath your capabilities.”
    “Hah! So far my capabilities have been less than zero. Give me another year and old Fred will start looking pretty good.”
    They laughed and talked the morning away. Janet listened as Chelsea filled her in on what had happened while she was away. Nothing much, but Janet liked listening to the sound of her voice.
     
    On Monday morning, the library welcomed Janet like a much-loved old friend. She passed through the doors and felt as if she’d been away a lifetime. In a way, she had.
    Amanda Austin glanced up from her paper. “You look tired, Janet. Has this been a terrible ordeal for you?” Then she shook her head. “What a ridiculous question. Of course, it’s been terrible. Is there anything I can do?”
    Stuffing her things into the locker, Janet turned to face her. “I appreciate your offer, but everything’s been taken care of.”
    The older woman fanned her paper.
    “Have things gone all right around here?” Janet asked.
    “All right?”
    “With my being gone. I know it was rough on the rest of the staff, being short-handed, I mean.”
    “We’ve had more than enough work to keep us busy.” Amanda Austin pursed her lips and frowned. “What we really need is another employee, but I suppose that’s out of the question with tight budget restraints and all.” She tapped her lips lightly. “Still, it’s something to think about.”
    Janet glanced at her watch when she heard the front door open. “That must be Chelsea,” she said.
    Miss Austin looked at the wall clock then lowered her eyes. “Janet, when you have the time, come to my office.”
    Janet nodded and turned away.
    The morning passed quickly as Janet tackled the backlog of work piled on her desk. Lunch was hurried, with little time for conversation. It was well after three before she looked up and stretched her arms. The stack of work had dwindled sharply. She sighed and arched her back. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, creating ribbons of color around the circular interior, and