Read Online Jacob's Ladder by Jackie Lynn - Free Book Online

agriculture and state politics. She flipped through some of them, finding nothing of interest.
    After searching the entire area that had been recommended to her, she soon learned that there were no books about Native Americans. She glanced across all the shelves in the history area and then returned to the table where she had been sitting and working. She did not notice right away that anything was different.
    She sat in the chair and glanced down, aware that the pages in the book she had been reading appeared to be turned to a different section than the one she had been studying. She thought she remembered what she had been reading when she had walked away, but she figured at first that maybe a breeze coming from the vents around her had blown across the book and turned the pages.
    Then she realized that her ink pen was no longer inside the large reference guide but was now positioned next to her paper, which also seemed to have been disturbed. What had previously been five or six sheets stacked on top of one another were now scattered on top of the desk. Again, Rose considered air from a vent, but she searched around and didn’t see any vents near where she was seated and she felt no draft around her.
    Then she leaned against the chair and, without really thinking, stuck her hand in the pocket of her coat, which she had left hanging there. And that was when she knew someone had been there. The bracelet was gone.
    She reached into the other pocket. It had only her keys in it. She jumped up and glanced around her seat, across the table, under the books and her paper. Her purse was still there, her wallet still inside. Nevertheless, it was obvious to her what had happened. Somebody had reached inside her jacket and stolen the bracelet.
    She ran to the front desk. The librarian was not there. Rose assumed she was in the rear office somewhere, but she couldn’t see anyone behind the glass partition. She spun around to see who was still present in the library. She saw the young woman with the child, the two teenaged boys at the computers. The older woman was gone from the magazine section, but Rose spotted her returning from the rest room. Like the others in the library, the woman acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
    Rose faced back toward the desk and the office. “Excuse me,” she said loudly.
    The two teenagers looked up from the computers. The women heard her, as well, but Rose didn’t care if she was making too much noise.
    â€œHello,” she said, showing a fair amount of concern in her voice. “Are you still here?” she asked, leaning against the counter, trying to gain the attention of the librarian.
    There was no reply. The others in the library only stared at her. Rose hurried around the desk and walked into the office. She saw a doorway leading behind the office. She headed toward it. She turned the corner and barreled right into the librarian.
    â€œGood heavens!” the woman screamed. She backed away from Rose, trying to gain her composure. Then she quickly yelled, “You can’t be in here!” She was obviously rattled by the surprising presence.
    Rose peered behind the woman and saw a rear entrance and a staff bathroom. Both doors were standing open.
    â€œDid you see anybody else in here?” she asked. She was certainly not concerned about trespassing in the staff quarters.
    â€œWhat?” the woman asked. Now, no longer startled, she stepped closer to Rose. “I’ve been in the office.” She stopped speaking, assessing the situation, “Wait, I told you that you can’t be back here. This is for employees only.” And she placed her fists on her hip. “Why are you here?” she asked Rose.
    â€œSomebody stole—” She stopped and thought better of what she was saying. “I’ve lost something and I needed to know if you’ve seen anybody else come in the library.” She spoke in an agitated