by Peter Grist
“I don’t know, Jan and I came to work this morning and, oh Jan, this is Ed, Ed, this is Jan Phillips”. The two nodded at each other, the more mature librarian looking over here spectacles at the newcomer. This was how librarians were supposed to look, knitted top, grey hair and spectacles hanging from a chain.
“Anyway”, Linda continued, “we turned the computers on and they are all empty, we can’t get any files up at all, they seemed to have disappeared.”
“What, everything? Let me see.” He came around to the other side of the work station and sat in the swivel chair.
“Strange, it looks like all of the memory has been wiped clean, where is your hub, your main computer?”
“Out the back in one of the storerooms, but no one really ever goes back there, except for maintenance and the like”, Jan offered.
“Let’s take a look shall we?” he said as he rose from the seat.
fourteen
The wailing sirens shattered the quiet of the mid-morning as the two bright red trucks thundered from the fire station near the center of town to a commercial estate on the west side. A small crowd of workers had already come out of their warehouses and offices to see what all of the commotion was about. Part of the estate contained a series of six secured medium-sized single story warehouses and lock-ups behind a separate twelve-foot high chain-link fence twenty foot from the buildings. The middle two were firmly ablaze and smoke billowed from what used to be the aluminium roof. The crowd quickly parted as the fire tenders hurtled towards them and screeched to a halt outside of the compound. The chief fire officer threw of his blue baseball cap and put on his red fire helmet, jumped down from the truck and ran to the mesh gates only to find a heavy chain and padlock secured the gates closed. As the wail from the sirens petered out he shouted back for someone to bring a bolt cutter as the crews emptied out. A large pair of cutters was taken from a storage bin by a well-built fireman and he ran them straight over to the Chief. No words were needed, the Chief nodded at the chain and the fireman made just a small grunt as his muscles and the cutter made easy work of the metal links. The lock and chain fell heavily to the concreted ground and the Chief pushed open the gates. He looked back towards the cab of the first engine and waved for the female driver to come forward. She had already spotted a hydrant grate to the left of the gates and swung into the compound towards it. As the engine came to a halt, like a well-oiled machine the rest of the crew were in motion, reeling out hoses from just behind the cab and connecting to the water supply. The fire truck carried five hundred gallons of water in its own tank but that would last just a few minutes fighting a fierce conflagration, so the fire truck became a mobile pumping station. The driver of the first truck now stood at the rear of the vehicle in front of a panel of dials, gauges and wheels. The pressure from the gauges was good so she turned two shiny brass wheels opening the taps for the two main hoses. The metal walls of the storage units hissed as the first jet of cold water arced up into the air and hit the roaring blaze. Steam now mixed with smoke and flames as the fire department fought to bring the situation under control.
The warble of another siren caused the fire chief to turn away briefly from watching his crews at work. The Deputy’s Ford Crown Victoria patrol car came alongside the ladder truck that had stayed outside the compound making a physical barrier between the crowd of onlookers and the fire. The siren died away but the red flashing roof lights stayed on. The Chief saw the door open and the occupant emerge. Recognition dawned as the driver stood up straight to his full 6” 2’ height, the chief took in the broad shoulders and large chest, the close-cropped buzz cut and square jaw of Deputy Pete Hodiak, a good man in the chief’s estimation. The deputy sheriff took a long panoramic scan of the scene, the crowd and every single face in it. He knew that most arsonists if arson is what it was, liked to hang around to watch their handy work. He recognised almost every person there, either by name or in passing and didn’t see any stand-out trouble makers except maybe Ashley Barrett from the junkyard down the road, who was never an easy fella to get along with at the best of times, and after he’d been drinking all night he was an awkward cuss. He would have to call the office for back-up soon or it would take hours to collect all of these people’s statements. His scan continued on with the burning building and the half-dozen fire department personnel bobbing around in their bright yellow protective helmets, so the crew captain or fire chief stood out easily in the lone red helmet. Hodiak made straight for Captain Haines, the chief. “Hey Pete.” the chief offered in welcome. The deputy nodded hello. “What do you think Cap?”
“Too early to say Pete, only just started in on it, but I doubt there’ll be bodies, the gates were closed and locked. My guess would be a heater malfunctioned or something of the like”. “Okay, well that’s something I guess, but someone at the newspaper is going to be majorly pissed!” The Chief looked puzzled, “What makes you say that?” The deputy turned to look into the fire. “Well those two centre units belong to the Marion County Tribune, that’s history right there going up in smoke, shame, damn shame.” They both nodded in agreement.
fifteen
Ed followed Linda and Jan to the very back of the library where there was a door marked fire exit, Linda lead through into a narrow corridor lit by a single strip light and a frosted skylight. The corridor had several doors on either side with the last door directly in front of them at the very end marked FIRE EXIT ONLY and operated by a push bar. Linda led them to the last door on the left before the fire exit then paused as Jan found the correct key from a large bunch taken from her pocket. Jan inserted a key into the lock but it wouldn’t turn. She tried the handle, it turned easily in her hand and the door swung open.
“Oh, that’s odd, it’s already unlocked”. She stepped into the room, turned to the right and knocked the light switch up. None of the group was prepared for what they saw. Linda and Jan gasped at the mess that confronted them. The room measured roughly twenty feet square and had shelves and cupboards on three of the four sides but no windows except another small skylight in the centre of the roof. The back wall held a computer work station, the main computer and an old microfiche machine. Below the skylight, in the middle of the room was another stand-alone island work station with storage underneath. The contents of the shelves and storage units were scattered on the floor in disarray. The plastic microfiche files were heaped in the corner, the shattered machine bashed in nearby. Ed could see that most of the mess was old newspapers and magazines.
“I’m guessing this isn’t your usual filing system?” Dazed, the two women looked helplessly around the room. “Why would anyone do this Ed? It’s only our newspaper archive, what’s the point?” Ed looked at Linda, “I think we should get out and lock the door, this is a crime scene so I doubt the Police will appreciate us disturbing things, the computer will have to wait”. They backed out, Linda switched off the light and Jan locked the door after them then went to the front desk to call the Police. Linda and Ed stood in the corridor facing each other. “Let’s go sit in the staff room, have a coffee while we wait.” She gently grabbed his hand and led him the way they came back to the staff room. She busied herself filling the coffee percolator with water and coffee then found two clean mugs in the cupboard under the worktop.
“I have a feeling this has something to do with Gracie.” said Linda.
“Why would you think that? It looks like something kids would do, just goofing around.”
“Well because that is where I transferred all the information from the newspapers and microfiche to computer and where I would have looked into the disappearance if the computers were working. I think whoever did this has messed up the computers too, so that I can’t find anything, and that is the most secure room in the building, I doubt any kids would have got in there.”
“Damn, so we can’t find anything else out about the missing kids?”
“Kids? What do you mean kids, are you sayi
ng there’s more than one now?” she looked even more shocked.
“Well I don’t know exactly, but there might be, somebody mentioned something to me this morning at the diner but it’s gonna be hard to find anything out now, unless….”
“Unless what?” she asked. The water had run through the machine and filled the glass jar underneath with strong smelling coffee. Ed watched in silence as she filled the two mugs with the steaming liquid then added creamer and sugar to his then passed him his drink. “Unless what?” she repeated.
“Thank you.” He replied as he took the proffered drink, he held it below his nose and breathed in deeply, savouring the aroma of coffee beans. “I don’t know, it’s just that I had a thought, when I first got into town I looked for the local newspaper office to see what they might have on the little girl. The place was locked up tight for the night so I never got to ask. Luckily for me I found you instead.” He blushed a little as he said the words but moved swiftly on, “but it is still worth asking them, they would keep copies too.”
“Yes, of course, I know the editor a little as they use the library for research sometimes, let’s go across now and ask…”
“You’re not going anywhere yet Mrs Saxon!”
Ed and Linda both jumped as Sheriff Rosen’s voice seemed to echo around the staff room as he stood in the doorway, a solid barrier to the library. “Or you either Mr Saunders, least not until we have had a look at this intrusion Mrs Phillips told me about.” He turned his back on the couple and walked slowly down the corridor towards the stock room, each step purposeful. Rosen directly stopped outside the room then turned back to the pair as they followed him down the corridor, looking expectantly at them.
“You got here really quickly Sheriff, must be a quiet day!” suggested Ed as they caught up.
“No Mr Saunders, it’s actually quite a busy day, what with the fire and all, but my office is just across the street and poor Mrs Phillips sounded real upset on the phone so I came right over.”
“What fire is that? I heard sirens earlier but didn’t give it much of a thought.” Linda enquired. Rosen turned to Linda, a hard-edged smile playing on his lips.
“Damn shame, big blaze over at a storage unit on the outskirts of town, from what I hear, the whole of the Tribune’s files and history have gone up in a big ball of smoke.”
Ed and Linda looked at each other, the knowledge of the fact that probably their last line of enquiry was now lost forever needed no words. Rosen stood rock steady, an enigmatic smile on his face. They waited in silence until Mrs Phillips reappeared, carrying the bunch of keys. She was still flustered and upset.
“Sorry, I had to tell a couple of people to leave, then I closed the library, I think its best, in the circumstances.” Rosen looked down on her but said nothing, just held out a gloved hand. Jan Phillips looked down at his hand then back to his face, confused.
“I think the Sheriff would like the key to the storeroom now Jan.” Linda offered, breaking the silence. The realisation finally dawned on the aged librarian’s face and she fumbled for the right key but not before dropping them on the floor. Rosen stared at her impassively, patiently waiting until she finally found the correct key for the room. Finally, she sorted out the right key and handed it to the Sheriff. He deftly inserted the key in the lock and opened the door. Without looking he stretched out to his right and knocked the light switch to on.
“Mmm, quite a mess you got here” he drawled. The other three tried to squeeze in behind the Sheriff but there was little space as he had barely entered the room.
“We think whoever did this went into the computer too as the ones in the library aren’t working.” offered Linda. The law enforcement officer gazed a few moments longer around the room then abruptly turned around, almost bowling the other three over in surprise.
“Nothing much to be done here, no signs of forced entry, but I’ll get my deputy to come over when he’s finished at the fire, see if he can get any prints from anything. ‘Til then leave the place as it is, you got that?” He switched off the light, closed the door behind him and locked the room.
“I’ll take this with me” he said as he slipped the key from the bunch and dropped it in a top pocket of his starched chocolate-coloured shirt.
Ignoring Jan and looking at Ed and Linda, the Sheriff said “I’ll be wanting to talk with both of you at some point so don’t go disappearing anywhere will you?” With that he marched back the way he came, beckoning Jan to let him out the main doors at the front. She bustled after him quickly leaving Ed and Linda in the corridor.
“Oh, that man gives me the creeps. You know he asked me out on a date just a few weeks after Ben died, can you believe that?”
“Really?” Ed looked astonished. “No one is that insensitive are they?”
They stared at the door that Rosen had just left by.
“It’s just a thought”, he said, “but did you see how he went into that room. He switched the light on without looking for it. You did too, but you’ve been in there a million times, right? How did he know where the switch was?
“What are you trying to say, Rosen trashed our store room and computer?”
“I’m not saying anything, but….well, he did know where it was, and he seemed pretty pleased with himself when he told us that storage place belonging to the Tribune was on fire.”
“Well he does know the alarm code of all the municipal buildings and whoever got in never set the alarm off, but why, why would he do this?” she asked.
“That Lieutenant is the right question.” He said almost to himself.
“What? Lieutenant?
He was deep in thought but replied, “Oh, it’s just a line from a movie, never mind.”
Linda stared at him, a confused look on her face. After a few moments Ed broke the silence, “Will Smith? Oh never mind. So that’s it then, we can’t do much else can we?” he asked.
They wandered back to the staff room and sat opposite each other in two worn-out armchairs glumly drinking their coffee. Linda looked perplexed, after a few minutes she sat bolt upright. “That’s it!” exclaimed the librarian, “Come on!” She banged her near empty mug down on a side table and almost dragged Ed out of his seat. “What?!” he asked, completely startled by her sudden drive. “I’ve got an idea!” she said with a beautiful sexy smile on her lips.
Linda started to walk back to reception, her turn to be deep in thought, Ed following close behind. Finally, she whispered “Well there is no way the fire at the storage facility is a coincidence. Whoever it is knows we are looking into it. I think we are going to have to be more direct. I think we should go and talk to Buster”.
“Gracie’s dad? Do you think that’s a good idea Linda? What we have to say will sound insane and it’ll only upset the guy”.
“We don’t need to tell him everything; we can leave out the weird stuff. I know Buster, he’s a lovely man, I think he’ll talk to us, tell us what happened back then. He comes in here sometimes so I’ll have his address”. “Won’t he be at work, at the gas station?”
“No, I’m pretty sure he only works the afternoon ‘til late shift. It would be better to talk to him at home, in private anyway”.
Ed looked doubtful. “Will you have his address still; didn’t you lose it with the rest of the computer stuff?” “Oh yes, maybe, but that’s my idea! She replied proudly, “We still have the old registration cards too. I’ll go see”. Behind the counter sat a beige metal cabinet with small drawers from top to bottom. Linda opened the top drawer marked A to C and skipped deftly through the filing system behind the reception desk until she found the B’s.
“Here we go, B….. Beechey…. Bell….. Benedict……. Benjamin! Eugene Benjamin, Got it! 1241 North Acre Road. I know where that is”. She waved the small filing card triumphantly.
“I’m still not sure this is a good idea Linda”.
Worry was etched on Ed’s face. He could see that Linda was getting excited about joining the hunt, her enthusiasm making her eyes sparkle, the disappointment and shock of the break-in already forgotten.
“It’ll be fine, trust me! Your car or mine?” Capitulating to her excitement he gave in. “Okay, we’d better take mine if we want to get there. C’mon”. She thumped him gently on the arm in defence of her car as Jan unlocked the door once more and let them out of the library.
sixteen
North Acre Road was set in a pleasant if slightly run-down suburb north of town. What had once been classed as the black side of town, but now there were just as many white families living in the area. As Linda gave directions Ed drove. Being on the opposite side of town than the one he had entered he recognised nothing. When she had first entered his car she did a quick look around at the interior, noting the mess.
“Not big on house-keeping then?” she quipped.
“What do you mean, this is modern art, and it’s a work in progress so don’t move anything!” he rebuked. “When I’ve finished this trip I hope to sell this car for a quarter million to some gullible art gallery curator.”
“Oh I can see it now, you mean like Damien Hirst’s dead cow? I think you’ll get more for it than that then.” They both laughed.
“Actually, I do try and keep it quite clean, I give it a good sort out after every trip, but I haven’t had a chance so far, and I wasn’t expecting guests.”
Linda picked up the rubbish from the foot-well and stuffed it into a fast food takeaway bag so that she had somewhere to put her feet then placed the bulging bag behind her seat.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I am now, let’s go!”