Episode Two: That Book is Overdue, President Lincoln.
Grisham: Stay vigilant, but most importantly, stay hopeful. And Tim, wherever you may be, just know that your friends, family, and everyone in King Falls is looking forward to your eventual and safe return.
[KFAM music]
Sammy: Good evening, I’m Sammy Stevens and you’re listening to 660 on the AM dial. Welcome to King Falls AM. I’m here with Ben Arnold.
Ben: Again?
S: Yes, again, Ben! My producer slash co-host, emphasis on co-host. That voice we just heard from was mayor Grisham, of course, speaking out about the recent disappearance of Tim Jensen.
B: If you or anyone you know has any information about Tim’s disappearance, we urge you to reach out to the King Falls sheriff department.
S: Now, on a lighter note, we’ve got a big show tonight folks. We’ve got an interview with Emily Potter, who’ll be telling us all about the grand reopening of the King Falls library in just a few short days.
B: Plus a call from Dr. Raul, later in the hour.
S: I can hear the excitement in your voice Ben. You’ve got your gunning for network news underoos on today.
B: Any network but channel 13, Sammy. They can suck it.
S: Now, before we bring in the lovely Miss Potter, we’re going to-
B: Is she lovely?
S: Well, I mean, I haven’t met her, but I assume she’s a lovely person, small town librarian and all.
B: Lovely...personality? Gotcha.
S: It counts.
B: That’s what they say.
S: So, okay, before we bring in Miss Potter-
B: Couldn’t help but notice you didn’t use any adjectives that time.
S: Ben, is there something on your mind?
B: Not at all! It’s just that, our old librarian, Mrs. Kilpatrick, was not what you’d call a lovely...anything. Lady got her scholarship in war torn nazi Germany, so I’m a bit apprehensive to call anyone running the town book shack lovely. Can I just say, for the record, that Mrs. Kilpatrick used to place the learn to draw books in the reference section. If anything, they’re self help books, and if a kid wants to check one out, learn how to draw droopy the damn dog, then maybe they should let him.
S: *chuckles* You’re not wrong, Ben, but maybe-
B: I haven’t told this to anyone, ever, but when I was a kid, I was walking down the aisles, and I saw that old whisper nazi put Mein Kampf in the children’s section, and she-
S: Maybe we can ask Miss Potter her opinions on the King Falls Hitler youth, as well as opening up the phone lines to you dear listeners, right after this commercial break.
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S: Welcome back, folks, and thanks for tuning in to King Falls AM, sitting in the studio with us is, can I say lovely now Ben?
B: Stunning.
S: Is the lovely Miss Emily Potter. She’s here to talk more about the town’s library grand reopening later this week, is that correct?
E: It is, and thank you for having me on Sammy, and Ben, I’ve been listening to you every night.
B: Beautiful.
S: Well, we certainly appreciate it. Now, if you don’t mind, catch me up to speed on why our fair town’s library was closed in the first place.
B: Gorgeous.
S: Ben.
B: Hey, Sammy.
E: Well, the library was closed due to renovation. It’s an older building and-
B: Built by Francois Swindle, 1912, largest brick and mortar structure in King Falls until 1918, when city hall was built.
E: Oh my gosh you are exactly right Ben. So smart.
S: You know, I’ve driven past, it is a magnificent building. So they’re just replacing some older fixtures and what have you?
E: Oh no, the top floor of the library was set on fire.
S: I’m sorry, purposely? Who tires to burn down a library?
E: Unfortunately, that mystery is yet to be solved, but not for lack of trying. Sheriff Gunderson and Deputy Troy have been hard at work these past few months. Though, I think the bigger problems was the disappearance of Mrs. Kilpatrick.
S: Wait a second, the library was set ablaze, the old librarian, Mrs. Kilpatrick-
B: God rest her soul.
S: -has disappeared. What is going on here? I mean, are there any leads, uh, you know, other than Ben?
B: Ha! Good one Sammy! *forced laughter* What a kidder! I’m not, I'm not sure why you’d say that at this time.
S: Two words. Book. Shack. Uh but I mean seriously folks, how many people are missing in this town?
B: *clears throat* Emily. Can I call you Emily?
E: Please do.
B: Can, can you tell the listeners anything that might help shed some light on these subjects?
E: Well, for weeks leading up to the fire, Mrs. Kilpatrick had been having...visions.
S: Visions?
E: Yes. To the point where upper management had been talking about retirement. I don’t know if we should be talking about this with the investigation ongoing and all…
S: I think-
B: Maybe it could help, Emily. Your words, your magnificent words, could be our best, last, chance at saving dear Mrs. Kilpatrick.
E: You’re right Benny.
S: Um.
E: The visions she was by the checkout desk. At first it was a shadowy figure carrying a book. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was actually President Lincoln, who she believed was trying to check out a book.
S: President Abraham Lincoln?
B: 16th President of the United States. Jeez Sammy, catch up will you?
E: This went on every night at closing for close to a week, until the second vision appeared.
B: Go on.
E: She watched from the second floor as President Lincoln brought the book to the front desk.
S: Just by chance, what book does a deceased president of the United States try to check out?
B: “Twelve Years a Slave”, duh.
S: Alright, too easy Ben, how about uh, “How To Lose Friends and Alienate People.”
E: I don’t th-
B: I like it, but I think Lincoln is probably more of a “Who Moved My Cheese” type.
E: Privacy and all, I...I couldn’t say even if I wanted to.
B: Yeah Sammy, privacy and all.
S: I uh, of course, library patient privilege, gotcha, so please continue Miss Potter.
E: So, she watched from afar, quietly putting away the periodicals, then she felt a wind rush past her to the ledge. That’s when she saw….
S: What’d she see?
E: A vision of John Wilkes Boothe. Peering over the ledge, watching the president as he waited for a librarian that never came.
B: Fascinating.
S: Okay.
B: Oh, here comes Mr. Skeptic. He didn’t believe in General Abilene. Lemme guess, Sammy, you don’t believe in president of the United States either? The great emancipator.
S: Oh Ben will you stop it, I'm just wary that a ghost of-
E&B: Vision.
S: Right, that a vision of President Lincoln and his assassin would be wandering the halls of King Falls public library, that’s all.
E: I understand your reticence to believe in the visions, Sammy, I thought the same thing. But, as I'm sure Ben can attest, Mrs. Kilpatrick wasn’t one to-
B: If she said she saw it, she saw it.
S: So, she has visions, what does that have to do with the fire?
E: Well, Mrs. Kilpatrick actually in a small apartment in the library.
S: In the library? Uh, that might be creepier than the visions
E: She complained to management about the noises, the visits, apparently there were arguments?
S: Arguments? Between Lincoln and Boothe?
B: So they were keeping old lady Kilpatrick awake at night?
S: And, you know, then Kilpatrick gets fed up, there’s no Peter Venkman to call, she does what she can do and sets the place on fire?
E: Well, I don’t know if Mrs. Kilpatrick would’ve done that.
B: All due respect, oh she would have.
S: I think it’s cut and dry actually, you know, maybe we should call Deputy Troy and solve this cold case?
B: Well, what do you think happened Emily?
E: I have to assume that Boothe did what he could to get to the president again. Unofficially, of course. Uh. God, we shouldn’t even talk about this with the investigation and all.
S: Alrighty, well, that said, we’re gonna open up the phone lines now. We’re talking about the library opening back up later this week, after some difficulties. Maybe you’ve got a question for Emily?
B: Maybe you’ve seen the visions in the library as well, we’d love to hear about that. S: Or that too. You’ve heard our story, now let's hear yours. 424-279-3858.
B: Or tweet us @kingfallsam. Line 12, uh, wouldn’t give a name
S: You’re on King Falls AM.
F?: Yeah uh, I’ve got a question for Emily.
E: Hi!
Frickard: Lets say that...my friend checked out a book last year and due to the fire and the closing wasn’t able to return it on time. Are overdue charges being forgiven?
E: If you couldn’t return it due to our renovation then I'm sure we can overlook it.
F: Cool.
S: Thanks for the question.
F: Wait, uh, I’ve got another question for Emily.
E: Oh! Okay…
F: Are you seeing anybo-*hang up*
B: Next caller! Uh...we’ve got line 4, Cynthia
S: Hello Cynthia, you’re on the air.
Cynthia: From what I gathered, in this interview, as well as the news report that Channel 13 ran-
B: *scoffs* You shouldn’t listen to them, Cynthia
C: Excuse me Ben, excuse me.
S: Cynthia.
C: From what I'm gathering, the library, if you wanna call it that, is a despot of desolation. Arson? Check! Fifty Shades of Gray? Check! Presidential assassins? Check!
E: Cynthia, I believe-
C: What are you, twelve, and you’re running the show? Could we at least get an adult to watch over that den of depravity.
S: Cynthia, I think we could probably argue that the worst of the library’s problems are behind it.
B: This is a new chapter in its history. Did you see what I did there Emily?
E: *laughing* You’re so funny!
C: Oh my god, hose those two down Sammy, it’s unbearable!
S: Cynthia, did you have a question regarding the library?
C: Yes. My boys are 10 and 6. Does the revamped library have a kids corner?
E: It most certainly does.
C: Are you overseeing it?
E: Yes, I am.
C: Ugh. *hang up noise*
B: We’ve got line 8, Sammy
S: King Falls AM.
?: Hey King Falls, long time listener, first time caller.
B: Long time?
S: Uh, the station appreciates the patronage.
?: I don’t listen to the station really. I listen to you. *hang up noise*
E: Ooh.
S: Okay…
B: Yikes. Uhh. Try 14 Sammy.
S: Good evening, welcome to the show.
Old Lady: I saw the president.
B: Oh! Another sighting.
S: Ma’am, are we talking about President Lincoln in the King Falls library or President Obama on Fox News type of thing?
OL: Lincoln!
B: Oooooh!
E: Mrs. Kilpatrick?
Mrs K: I saw him! *hang up noise*
S: Well terrific, I mean I didn’t need to sleep tonight anyways, it’s fine.
B: Uhh...one more before commercial, we’ve got Greg line one.
S: Greg, do you have a question for us?
Frickard: Yes, this question is for Emily. If a man, such as...my friend, wanted to court you, would you be avail- *hang up noise*
B: Pay some bills Sammy.
S: Emily, thank you so much for being here with us tonight, enlightening us with the tales of the library.
E: Oh, it was my pleasure. I just want all the listeners to know that, while we can’t wish the visions away, they more than likely will stay away from us in crowds. So please come join me in the reopening ceremonies this Thursday at 10am.
B: I will be there.
E: You’re a sweetheart, Benny. Thanks for having me on guys! *sounds of her leaving*
B: Any time, Emily.
S: She’s gone, Benny.
B: Ben.
S: Oh, so only Emily can call you Benny?
B: She, she didn’t call me Benny. You’re ridiculous.
S: Oh yeah, that’s me. Look, I get it. She’s a very attractive girl, and you guys hit it off.
B: We did, didn’t we?
S: But really, she called you Benny.
B: Don’t.
S: That’s the Ben we know and love folks.
B: Yeah, yeah.
S: Alright. Now after this quick message from our sponsors we’re gonna be back, and we’re going to be talking with Dr. Raul from the King Falls Chiropractic Center, and getting daily tips to keep our backs on the straight and narrow. And I'm sure Ben will be just as flirtatious with the good doctor.
B: Is he lovely too?