The Murders in the Reed Moore Library Read Online Free PDF Page A

folders in a larger
one. "If you find anything else just leave it where you find it and
give the department a call. Believe it or not, we'll figure this
out."
    Dupin crouched and stared at David, his tail
flicking back and forth. David noticed and edged back. "Thank you,
Ms. Copper."
    As David left, Dupin got up and rubbed
Penny's arm again. She turned around and scratched his neck, then
ran her hand down his back through his long fur. Almost as good as
tuna, but he couldn't quite forget the empty knot in his belly.
    "I'm going to figure this out," Penny said.
"For Camille."
    Penny went into her office. Dupin followed
and crawled into his bed beneath her desk. While she typed on the
computer he busied himself cleaning his fur again.
    It took longer than Dupin thought was
possible. Twice he woke from short naps when the drone of the
keyboard keys ceased, but each time Penny started typing again. On
the third time she pushed her chair back from the desk. Dupin
lifted his head and yawned.
    Penny peeked beneath the desk at him. "I've
finished the list. It's very interesting."
    Of course. Dupin stretched out his legs and
did a deep back bend.
    "David identified the books that were
underneath Mr. Wilson, and those on top of him. They kept track of
the layers of books so we have an idea of when books were put in,
in what order. There's not a lot of names on the list."
    Dupin stretched his back legs out. She must
have a point with all of this.
    "That guy from earlier? Rod Allan? He turned
in books that were beneath Bill Wilson. There was also a book
checked out to Mr. Wilson. And that older couple, they came by
yesterday too. I recognized the names when I saw it. Sullivan and
Madeline Winters, they returned books that were right on top of the
body."
    Dupin walked out from under the desk.
Interesting. And all of them showed up the next morning? Maybe
because one of them wanted to return for their kill? Did humans eat
things they killed? They must, because they had things like tuna.
Dupin's stomach rumbled. He really needed to eat something.
    "I'm going to call David, tell him I've
emailed the list. He needs to know who came by today." Penny picked
up her cell phone and dialed quickly. She leaned back in the
chair.
    Dupin jumped up onto her lap so that he could
hear the conversation better.
    "David."
    "It's Penny Copper. I just emailed the list
you wanted."
    "Great, thanks."
    "You need to know, the man whose books were
right beneath the body, Rod Allan, he came by earlier today. He was
here when Bill Wilson's wife was here."
    "Really?" Dupin heard the excitement in David
voice even with the phone pressed up against Penny's head.
    "And there was an older couple today, the
Winters. They had returned books that were on top of the body."
    "They're regulars?"
    "Yes. I recognized them. I didn't place their
names until I saw the list, but yeah, they're in most days."
    "Good work. You said the other guy was Rod
Allan?"
    "Yes? Does that mean something? He offered to
help clean the drop."
    "Really? Well, that's interesting. We just
found out that the picture in Wilson's wallet, of him and the girl?
That's Lenore Allan. She's a student in Wilson's class."
    Penny ran a hand along Dupin's back. "So he
might have gone after Mr. Wilson because of his daughter. That
sounds like a motive to me."
    "And with his books right beneath the body he
might as well have signed a confession. I love it when cases solve
themselves!"
    Dupin felt water drip on his ear. He flicked
it and looked up at Penny. Water flowed from her eyes. As much as
he didn't care for the water, he knew her well enough to know what
she was thinking. It was Camille. If this man killed Bill Wilson,
then he must have killed Camille just because she saw something. If
she hadn't gone back for her folder she would have been fine.
    "Thank you, Ms. Copper. We'll —"
    "Penny, please."
    "Okay. Penny. Thank you. I think I need to go
have a chat with this Allan fellow."
    "Alright, bye." Penny hung up