“No, I can’t. Not without the written permission of a member of the family or their legal representatives.” Diesel had a better chance of having tea with Queen Elizabeth than Vera had of getting permission to view the Ducote Collection.

Vera jumped up from her chair and loomed over my desk. Her nostrils flared, like those of a bull ready to charge. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

I stared calmly back at her, though I had to struggle not to flinch. Her head was mere inches from mine. “I’m the person in charge of the archives, and it’s my responsibility to uphold the ethics of the position.”

“I can have you fired.” Any moment now I expected her to start foaming at the mouth, she was so angry.

I made no effort to disguise my extreme dislike as I replied, “Go right ahead. My boss’s office is right downstairs. I’m sure he’d be happy to speak with you.”

Diesel growled as he leaped over my shoulder to land on my desk. Papers went flying, and I had to grab a couple of rare volumes to keep them from hitting the floor. Vera jolted back and stumbled into her chair. She sat abruptly as my cat hissed at her.

“Call off that thing.” Vera trembled and scooted her chair back at least a foot. “I’ll sue the hell out of you if it so much as touches me.”

I bit back a retort. Diesel wouldn’t want his mouth on any part of her. I placed my hand on the cat’s head and stroked. He calmed after a moment.

“I don’t believe there’s anything else I can do for you, Mrs. Cassity.” I got up from behind the desk and retrieved her fur.

She snatched it away and grabbed her purse. She stomped off but paused in the doorway and turned back. “I think it’s time I reconsidered some of the scholarships I give out. And maybe have a talk with the animal control people about that monster.” She gestured rudely at Diesel before she disappeared.

SIX

All the rest of that day and the next I stewed over Vera’s threats against Justin and Diesel; I replayed the scene in my head several times a day. But I saw no evidence that she followed through with either threat.

Should I have been more conciliatory?

No, the end result wouldn’t have changed. I could not let her have access to the Ducote papers, no matter what she swore to do.

Perhaps Vera blustered more than she bit. Many bullies talked big but didn’t follow through with their threats. I tried to comfort myself with that thought, but I remained preoccupied with my concerns. I confided in no one, though, because I didn’t want to alarm my family unduly.

Vera didn’t reappear at the archives or come to the public library on Friday when I did my volunteer stint, Diesel at my side. I braced myself for a confrontation from the moment I walked in the door that day, because Vera often turned up on Fridays. For all her faults she was a voracious reader and usually ripped through five or six books a week, mostly romances and thrillers. As the end of my volunteer shift approached, however, there had been no sign of her.