Let's Play Dead Read Online Free Page A

this time around the news would be more pleasant.
    “How many?”
    “A couple of thousand. It takes most of a day. I know—it seems old-fashioned. We’re thinking of going to an electronic newsletter, but a lot of our members are older and they still like a paper copy.”
    Shelby nodded. “I know what you mean. Anyway, I’m a quick study. What say I do some reading and looking through the files this morning, and later you can take me around downstairs, once I figure out what I’m supposed to be seeing? I don’t want the library people to think I’m a dithering idiot.”
    “Don’t worry, they’re good people,” I assured her. “Overworked and underpaid, but they care about what they’re doing. I’m sure they’ll welcome you. Why don’t we plan to have lunch, and then I’ll finish the tour?”
    “Sounds good. Thanks, Nell. I’ll try not to drive you around the bend with dumb questions.”
    “You’re allowed a few. See you later!”
    I went back to my office, which I still had trouble treating as mine. I was afraid to mess it up—I was supposed to represent a prestigious institution, and clutter was not the image we wanted to project. Not that I’d had many official visitors yet. Were my peers giving me a little breathing room to get things sorted out, or was the Society so tarnished by recent events that they didn’t want to be contaminated? Maybe I should have a “Welcome, Me” reception and invite all my colleagues, and face the issue head-on. Hmm . . . maybe that would be a good dry run for Shelby. Since event planning was part of her job description, putting together a cocktail party for a couple hundred people on short notice would be a good test of her abilities. And at the same time we could prove quite publicly that life was going forward at the Society. I liked it. I’d have to bring up the idea at lunch and see how Shelby reacted.
    I could hear a ringing phone. I looked at the one on my desk: yes, a light was flashing. But the ringing came from the phone on the desk of my nonexistent assistant, who was supposed to be screening my calls and keeping track of my interviews and all that good stuff. I needed to remind Melanie to put finding me an assistant at the top of her priority list. Oh, right, the phone. I picked it up on the sixth ring.
    “Nell Pratt,” I said, more brusquely than I intended.
    “Hi, Nell!”
    Luckily I recognized the distinctive voice (no caller ID on my aging phone): Arabella Heffernan, the president of Let’s Play Children’s Museum. “Arabella! How nice to hear from you. Can I do something for you?”
    Arabella loosed a peal of silvery laughter. “Oh, no, my dear. I’m fine. I’m so sorry I haven’t been in touch sooner about your elevation, but we’ve been so busy here, trying to put together our next exhibit while keeping the rest of our place open, that I haven’t had time to turn around. Congratulations! I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job. I know it’s short notice, but how would you like a teeny behind-thescenes peek at our new exhibit before it opens to the public?”
    Let’s Play was a children’s museum. I had no children. I had no near relatives who had children. In all my years in Philadelphia, I had had few reasons to enter the portals of Let’s Play. Arabella was the first person to extend a welcoming hand to me, and it would be rude of me to turn her down. “I’d love to. When did you have in mind?”
    “Oh, how grand. Perhaps later today?”
    While I didn’t know Arabella well, I knew enough to realize that she was a slightly otherworldly person, the kind to whom details like time management were of little importance. I’m sure she never considered that perhaps I might be completely crazed and hip deep in a difficult transition; in her mind she was making a kind gesture, and I appreciated that. “I could probably get away around four. Would that suit you?”
    “Perfect! And we can have tea! I’ll see you then, my dear.” She