“Why don’t you get a new truck?” Gregson asked.

“This truck is new, or was three years ago. I bought it from a Mexican, and I have been getting offers from landscapers ever since,” Andrew said.

“Well, you should at least clean it. Don’t you want to take a girl out from time to time?”

“Yes, and no. Women create problems, complications, and have standards—kind of like you, but I can never get away from them—it’s their psychological hold that brings mood swings like an emotional roller coaster.”

“Well, I like roller coasters.”

“Me too, but I like to be able to get off, when I want to.”

“Suit yourself. Remember—we are looking for an extremely pleasant person.”

Many things were different at the Maple Valley Library. A big fat woman was handing out paper helicopters to children. It reminded Gregson of the surprises in life. Now, it took a grisly murder for him to get excited.

“How’s your novel coming?” Gregson asked.

“I’m almost to the conclusion. This is the part where you get framed, and I get away with murder. But not really—it’s only a story, Gregson.”

“You could’ve fooled me.”

Inside, big black men were installing computers. Children were running around antique stacks of books and screaming. Copiers, and beeping sounds filled the sanctum. Homeless bums were snoring. The lady with the 15 cats was complaining that the library didn’t have the latest issue of Cat Magazine.

“This isn’t even a library anymore—it’s more like a mental institution paid for by taxpayers who don’t read,” Andrew said.

“Quiet sir, you can’t say those sorts of things in the library.”

Gregson look at the librarian. She was tense. He looked at the other librarian. She was tense. So much for finding a pleasant person. The conditions had changed, hiding all potential suspects.

“Well, who do you think is the murderer?” Andrew asked.

“Someone with good eye-sight. We can rule-out the librarians—I doubt they can see fifty feet with their glasses. The Cat Lady is out. She’s crazy, but too unstable to pull a trigger with any accuracy. Is that Nancy Drew—in the True Crime section?”