“I asked her once what criteria she used when she hired people.
"I choose those who are hurt, and exhausted," she answered right away.
I couldn't help but smile. Since I thought wanting to help people who suffered in some way when dealing with books was a wonderful reason. When I heard what she said next, though, my smile retreated.
"And people who have secrets. Put those to good use, use their weaknesses to make them at my beck and call."
"Why would you do that?"
"People change. You don't know what's going to happen next. If something does happen, I want to be able to deal with it. To protect you, and this place."
My aunt was certainly not just some kind, charitable person. I knew this from a long time ago, but her words now only reinforced it.”