Three Green Notebooks Left in a Cedar Chest on Elm Street

sound being the crackle of the birch logs burning inside the iron belly of the stove.

“Frank told me the library board had their meeting,” Arthur said after a three-second pause.

“They did,” I said.

Arthur looked at the small pile of cedar shavings near his boots, his face expressionless. “Are you going back to the desk?”

“No,” I said, the word coming continue reading …