Chapter 4
The Library Stamp
June found the real stamp in Beatrice Cole's garage, inside a banana box marked LOCAL HISTORY - FUNDRAISER.
Beatrice had invited her in with the confidence of a woman who believed cooperation looked identical to innocence. Six archive boxes lined the wall beside campaign placards. June opened the third. The chipped W was unmistakable.
"I bought the withdrawn material legally," Beatrice said. "Two pounds a box."
"And Arthur borrowed this one?"
"For a land-trust display. Ask Ravi."
Ravi confirmed it. Arthur had collected the box on Thursday and returned it Saturday morning, annoyed that the nursery catalogue was incomplete.
June pressed the stamp onto scrap paper. The impression matched the packet found in Arthur's fist. Anyone near the display could have used it, but Beatrice had owned it before and after.
As June repacked the box, a pale rectangle on the bottom showed where a folder had recently lain.
"What was here?"
Beatrice's answer arrived too quickly. "Nothing important."
At the door, June met Elsie Park carrying a camera bag. The girl glanced at the boxes, then at Beatrice.
"You said the Arthur display was cancelled."
Beatrice's smile tightened. "It is."
Elsie backed away. June followed her to the pavement.
"What was supposed to be displayed?"
"The original Wren House trust map," Elsie said. "Arthur told me to photograph it before noon. He said paper had a habit of changing when councillors touched it."
Behind them, Beatrice shut the garage door.