As his questions came flooding out, Donna painted a picture of what had happened. 

Unusually for him, John had taken the MBTA subway instead of walking; he rode from the Park Street Station at the Common to the Copley Square stop across from the Library. 

Unusual: yet not inexplicable. 

It was just like John to think of riding to America's oldest public library on America's oldest subway system.

This explained how he had arrived at the library so quickly. But, logical as the choice was, making such an unusual move also suggested John was worried about something.

After the shooting, he had run around erratically and then sought refuge in Emmanuel Church, one of several Gothic Style structures that grace Back Bay.

Unconscious, he was now in the offices of Emmanuel Music, deep in the recesses of the church. He had literally landed on the desk of Shirley Blanchard--the brilliant and powerful friend who had single-handedly invented the concept of the book club. Mary Farrell was at his side.