It was on a Friday afternoon

 

Really, Fridays are quiet at the library. There might be a late rush with high school students and a few who want to get in a stack of books in case of a cold spell or stay in for the weekend. Yes, we have our regulars. I am sure that is hard for many to believe. Especially those who wonder why anyone would be at the library these days anyway with so much technology at their fingertips.

It was around two in the afternoon when a dozen or so cops showed up, spanning through the stacks of the library. In an instance, they could be drawing guns. Yes, there were probably more cops there than staff and patrons. The men's room door got knocked in. There was a shout, "Come out with your hands up."

But no one did. No one was there. 

Finally, they found a coat on the back of the chair. Again, it was rummaged through to see if there were any weapons. We all sighed with relief. We were worried for nothing.

But then....they found the suspect in the Book Sale room. He was one of our regulars. And he even let it be known as he was taken by four cops, "Lisa, what's going on?" All eyes were on the head of circ then, and she didn't even know.

The cop cars stayed. It seemed the situation had happened up the street at the high school. And this person of interest fit the description. It was uncertain if the cops would be back in or not. About forty-five minutes later the suspect came in with a note while the cop cars filed out of the parking lot. He was not their man.

"I didn't do anything wrong," he assured us at the counter with a shrug. 

There had been a mugging at the high school. 

Oh, just small-town stuff that will never be on the news. I'm just thankful nobody got hurt at the library. Only, you never know these days just what might happen where ever you are.