Read Online Murder at the Library of Congress by Margaret Truman - Free Book Online Page B

and protecting copies of Ulysses beneath the counter, had long ago been dashed. Most librarians she knew didn’t fit that description, and the woman sitting across from her was no exception.
    “… and so I got my doctorate at Columbia in Spanish history,” Dolores said over coffee, “and looked for teaching positions. The Library of Congress had an opening and I grabbed it.”
    “How long have you been there?” Annabel asked.
    “Nine years.”
    “Enjoy working in the LC?”
    “Love it. I split my time between doing my own research and as a reference librarian for people using the Hispanic division. Consuela tells me you have a wonderful husband.”
    Annabel smiled. “Yes, I do. Mac—his name’s Mackensie—is a terrific guy. He teaches law at GW.” She’d noted that Dolores did not wear a wedding ring.
    “And you have that great gallery in Georgetown.”
    “My pride and joy.”
    “I’ve stopped in a few times but never saw you there.”
    “I’ve been fortunate with help. College students. I’ve pretty much turned the place over to them while working on this article. I interviewed Michele Paul this morning.”
    Dolores winced.
    Is there no one who has kind thoughts about him?
    “He was—well, he was somewhat helpful.” No sense adding fuel to the anti-Paul movement. “My article focuses on Las Casas and his reputed diaries and map.”
    Dolores’s tone and mood changed before Annabel’s eyes. A darkness seemed to come over her, causing what had been a face with an almost perpetual smile to pull down at the corners of the mouth.
    “I was warned not to expect much from him but …” Annabel forced a laugh. “Maybe I caught him on an off day.”
    Dolores’s smile didn’t seem genuine either. She looked down at her watch. “Dr. Paul and I don’t see eye to eye. I have to get back,” she said.
    Who would? Annabel thought.
    They split the check and walked back, promising to have lunch again soon. Annabel had wanted to spend the day in Manuscripts poring over Columbus’s Book of Privileges again, but another researcher had reserved it. She took the underground tunnel to the Madison Building and stopped in at Public Affairs to see if they had any biographical material on Michele Paul and a list of his publishers for her article.
    Annabel immediately recognized the woman in one of the offices. It was the TV journalist, Lucianne Huston. Two men sat in the waiting room, one cradling a video camera in his lap, the other perched atop a pile of black cases. Joanne, the woman who’d escorted Annabel the day before, waved her in.
    “Lucianne, this is Annabel Reed-Smith.”
    “Hi,” Lucianne said.
    “You might want to talk to Annabel about Las Casas,” Joanne offered. “She’s researching an article for our magazine, Civilization .”
    “Happy to,” Annabel said brightly. “But there are genuine experts around here.”
    “Sure,” Lucianne said. To Joanne: “You say Dr. Paul won’t be available until four?”
    “That’s what I’m told.”
    Lucianne looked at Annabel.
    “I’m free now,” Annabel said.
    “Now is good. How about just a talk first?” Lucianne suggested.
    “You two can use this office. I have to escort a reporter to an interview with Dr. Broadhurst.”
    Dr. Cale Broadhurst, the fourteenth Librarian of Congress, had succeeded James H. Billington after being nominated by the current administration and confirmed unanimously by the Senate. Mac and Broadhurst had been frequent tennis partners when Broadhurst was dean of GW’s ancient literature department. They still stayed in touch, only less frequently now.
    “Before you go,” said Annabel, “do you have a bio of Michele Paul for my article? I think I should know a little more about him.”
    “I don’t have one handy, but I’ll have one sent up to you later today,” answered Joanne with a mixture of surprise and disgust.
    After telling her two-man crew they were free for an hour, Lucianne sat with Annabel. “So,” she