Downtown Library Houston Novels & Stories

“What could you possibly have to do that’s so time consuming?” “Are you kidding?” I folded my arms. “Look at this place. I bet you wouldn’t last one hour running a facility as large as this.” Jake sighed and nodded as he looked around. The Greenbrooke Library was huge. It was two stories high with a coffee shop on the second floor, and there was even a garden out back where people could sit and read as they enjoyed the nature around them. I only had one assistant but she was hardly ever in because of her many doctor’s appointments.

"Yeah. Why?" "There's a library downtown hiring part-timers," he said, sliding a glass of water toward me. "Pay isn't amazing, but it's steady. Quiet. Better than dealing with creeps." Zoe snorted. "Chelsea at a library? She'd alphabetize the shelves by how many dollar signs each book could earn." I gave her my best 'you're not funny' glare, but a small laugh slipped out anyway. Alex shrugged. "It's there if you want it."

Mr. Lloyd and I arrived at the library. The downtown library was five stories tall. Being a weekday, it wasn't crowded, but finding someone I'd only met once in this 30,000-square-foot building seemed nearly impossible. After two hours of searching with Mr. Lloyd, we came up empty. Maybe she hadn't come today? It would make sense - having her important belongings stolen might have left her in no mood for reading. Disappointed, I headed back to the car with Mr. Lloyd.

I stupidly followed her, not sure if I could still consider her my ally. The main library was a massive Beaux Arts building of white granite, six stories high, occupying an entire city block. It is located in the center of the city, adjacent to the City Hall, the California Supreme Court, the War Memorial Opera House, the Hall of Proceedings and the Davis Symphony Hall. In these few downtown blocks, giants dominated the neighborhood. The library, though designed as if it were from a bygone era, was actually a recent addition to the overall ensemble. The old library was damaged during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.