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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 13:10:09 GMT
There was always something solemn about the silence that hung over the library. Jeremy had always found it to have the serenity of a temple or a church. Arkham University Library was not a library you came to find Martha Stewart's latest cookbook or a Pratical Guide to Pilates. No, those that came here, were in search of something. Those that came here, always had a sense of purpose about them, digging through tomes and archives, hoping to find a clue, a glimpse of the answers they were looking for.
Jeremy had not been a student here, but had been introduced to the library a while back, by one of his Freemason Lodge brothers. It was supposed to hold a veritable treasure tome of knowledge on the occult and the bizarre. It was rumoured to hold the answers to questions other libraries could not satisfy.
The occasional student wandered between the shelves silently, not looking up as Jeremy passed. Here one searched, and suffered, in silence. Alone.
Jeremy lifted the chair up, so shifting it back would make no noise. He took off the casual but chique vest he was wearing and laid it down on the table in front of him, before slowly taking the seat. He tapped the space bar on the keyboard and almost immediately the screen flared up, the cursor mark blinking, awaiting his search query.
All libraries were connected these days, Jeremy knew, and held a vast archive of newspaper articles. He popped his neck once, a sign he meant business, and his fingers started to dance over the keys.
"Hillford Mass Talbot case"
He checked the words in front of him once, twice, three times. The cursor still blinked patiently...until he hit enter.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 14:23:17 GMT
Matilda had opened the library earlier in the day in preparation for students wanting to revise for exams. She knew that only a few students would be in today. If anything it would be non-students who would be using the library. People researching their family trees seemed to be a popular one recently, apparently, people were convinced they were related to witches in the Salem trials. She lost count of the people who asked her for books on the trials, she ensured that they were arranged quite close to the computers, mostly so people would stop asking her.
She spoke to some students who were checking study guides out. She told them that they have them for three weeks before they would start being fined for them before making a drink before she made her rounds. There had been reports of students messing about in the shelves and she wanted them to stop.
She started making her rounds near the computers silently telling students ‘’The computers are only used for academic and research purposes’’ this carried on for quite a while until she went to the computer where Jeremy was currently sat at. ‘’ Bugger, that is the man I shouted at’’ she wanted to just turn around and leave him alone, but this was her domain. She is the duty librarian in today and she needed to ensure he knew the rules about being here, yes non-students were allowed but she wanted to double check he was not a student.
‘’Excuse me sir but are you a student here?’’ she says to him in a calmer voice, one he might recognise as she sees what he is typing into the search engine, knowing that she could be one of the things he is researching.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 16:53:37 GMT
"I am not, is that a problem?"
He slowly turned around and looked up. Now there was a face he didn't expect. It as her, without doubt. The woman, labeled 'Mrs. Harrow' in his files, if that was her name indeed. What was she doing here? Did she follow him? Was she stalking his every move? Or was she here to research something herself?
He looked around, casually, as one does, noting there was no sign of Mr. Dickens. Not that he could tell. He flashed her a smile. There was not much else he could do, now, was there?
"Ah, mrs. Harrow...I do hope I recollect that correctly?", he added, casually. Of course he recollected her name. She was in the files, stacked away in the folder, yelling 'Read me!' at him every time he picked the blasted thing up. The collection of forbidden notes, in case his mind gave up on him again. He alt-tabbed, the screen now flashing onto the general welcome screen. Maybe she had already spotted what he had been researching. Maybe she had been taken aback by the surprise of his presence and did not look at the screen?
Either way, he could work with whatever suspicions there might be on her behalf.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 17:19:51 GMT
"No it is not a problem. I've just not seen you here before" she saw him look a little bit shocked at her being there she smiled back at him trying to look friendly "Yes it is Ms Harrow I'm the duty librarian. You can call me Matilda however" as she flashed her badge to him.
She clocks the folder, it seemed he was indeed an investigator of the occult, or like many others a busy body who liked to stick his nose where it is not wanted. Still it was in her interests to be nice to him "I would like use this opportunity to say sorry for shouting at you. It was not my place to do so"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 17:39:52 GMT
He smiled and shook his head genty. "Not at all; miss Harrow...Matilda. It is I who should apologize. It was one of those situations one oversteps one's boundaries. Allow me to introduce myself properly then: Jeremy Hunter, esquire, but please, simply Jeremy will suffice of course.
The librarian you say? How interesting indeed..."
Again, he flashed her a smile.
"I have not been here before, no, that's very perceptive of you. It was recommended to me by a...a colleague. He told me this collection holds a veritable treasure of books and manuscripts on the occult and the bizarre. Are the occult and bizarre your field of expertise perhaps, Matilda?"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 18:45:06 GMT
"Well Jeremy, it is very nice to meet you" Matilda smiles and blushes a little bit. It is rare anyone smiled at her. Let alone someone as handsome as Jeremy in her work place.
"Yes I am the librarian here. Well one of a few here. I can't say it is that interesting. Mostly dealing with students" she smiles again at him before taking her glasses off to clean.
She listens to what he asks, assuming he is just looking for her to trip up and say something she should not say.
"Oh no Jeremy it is not my area of expertise. I'm more of an expert in History and classical languages. I took this role for the history, even though I know the books we have" she takes another look at his folder "I assume you have an interest in the occult?"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 19:15:42 GMT
He chuckled, still silently enough for a library. "The occult? Me? Hardly! I mostly deal in antiquities, so I'm afraid I'm a fellow scholar of the historical. Apart from my latin, I must confess however, I'm a bit rusty on the classical languages. But I'm sure that secret is quite safe with you, isn't it?"
He smiles when she takes off her glasses. "Now there's a different sight....have you tried contacts?"
Keep control over the conversation, steer it, guide it...keep her guessing. This was his area of expertise. After all, he was nothing if not the king of charm and small talk.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 19:32:48 GMT
"I only asked because most people here claim to be an expert on the occult "she laughs a little almost like she was trying to flirt
"Don't worry I won't tell anyone your little secret and nice to find another historian in this town Plus I only speak some Latin and Greek. That makes me sound a little bit boring"
She feels like his charm is working on her and to be fair she likes it. If she did not see him as an enemy then she would flirt a lot more with him. It is rare anyone did try and charm her.
"I tried contacts at college. Not to my liking. Plus these make me look more official"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 19:43:43 GMT
He nodded gravely. "Oh, they do...that real librarian look indeed. Very official and just a tad stern. You know, when books are returned late..." He smiled. "Still, life can't be all work, now can it? Sometimes one needs to let the hair loose, leave the glasses on the nightstand...
Ancient Greek? oh, I never could get my head around that properly. Guess I always preferred my Seneca to my Plato..."
Again, that smile.
"Say, perhaps you could assist me in my query here..." He alt-tabbed back to the search engine. "I was looking into recent events, a missing persons case...is there a way to save the clippings I have found. Print perhaps?"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 19:58:58 GMT
"You seem to mistake me for a woman who likes to let my hair down. Most people I know here are students and people older than me" she laughs.
"Yes Ancient Greek. Not the best to learn but I was always partial to Plato" she smiles back at him. "I had to learn it at college" Dammit she thinks, that man could make do anything and I'd say yes to him.
"Of course I can help. It is what I'm here for"She watches him alt tab back onto the search engine. "Oh I assume you mean the case at Hilford"... Yes there is a printer you can use. There is also ways you can save it onto a USB or disk"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 20:06:15 GMT
"Certainly you too have your guilty pleasures? I refuse to believe there isn't more than just this library or university."
He smiles and fishes something out of his pocket: a silvery-looking USB drive. "Yes, the Hilford case, nasty business from what I read of it, don't you agree? Makes you wonder what transpires behind all the walls of the houses you pass on the way home, don't you?"
He pushed the connector out of the USB, offering it to her "Where does this go exactly on these computers?"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 20:29:26 GMT
“I do have my own guilty pleasures. I collect vinyl. In fact that was l buying some the evening we ahem encountered each other. Plus I'm not invited to most things. Possibly unlike you I'm sure" yup the flirting might have become more obvious
At the mention of the house she froze for a few seconds. That dam house she thought and the rats attacking her “ Oh yes, makes you wonder what goes on behind closed doors Jeremey” she takes the USB off him and plugs it in for him. “if you need more information I might be able to help” why she said that she didn't know. But he was a good looking man and this was the most excitement she has had here.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 20:37:02 GMT
His aftershave became suddenly apparent, as she leaned in to plug in the USB. A designer scent, musk, with a floral note. It was subtle, but present. "Oh, I must admit I do get the VIP pass to clubs now and then. Comes with a certain clientele, I'm sure. Mostly cocktail parties and art gallery openings really. Do you like art? Of course you do."
He took the mouse in his hand again. "So where do I find the drive now? And do I just click-and-drag? Terribly sorry, I'm not really a savant when it comes to technology I'm afraid. Another secret, I guess."
He winked playfully.
"Help? Oh but you're such a help already, Matilda, what more help could you possibly offer?"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 20:54:54 GMT
She smells the aftershave on him. She assumes it is somethingfancy, nothing she is used to smelling. "I'm sure it comes with a certain clientele. I guess I mix with the wrong clientele. I am a fan of art. Went to a few galleries in London when I was there never openings more general admission"
She grabs his hand whilst it is still on the mouse. "Here I'll show you how" his hand feels quite soft, hands that are afraid of hard work as she shows him how to save things on there.
"If you don't mind me asking. Why the interest in the Hilford case?she asks innocently. Knowing full well why he is. He knows Dickens and she was there. ""Sorry it is a habit. Always asking if people need help"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 21:01:34 GMT
Well, well, well, an attempt to seize control? The game's afoot then.
"A bit of a morbid one, I must confess. I was tracking a valuable painting and my lead ends with that house, I'm afraid. With the proprietor now institutionalized, I'm afraid I'll never know whether he has the painting hanging somewhere on a bedroom wall." He shrugged and smiled as she shows him how to save the clippings.
"Thank you ever so much, you have been a tremendous help...how can I ever repay you?"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 21:08:22 GMT
Well he is looking for instances of strange activity or he assumes there was something more sinister afoot. Let's see what he says to that.
"Oh right, well I'm sorry to hear that Jeremy. Shame that a good piece of art is going to be lost forever" she responds. Crafty she thought, using art to hide what he is doing. Very sly but he won't catch her out this time.
"There is no need to thank me Jeremy. I'm here to help. Plus you've made my day a little bit better. Very rare someone like you comes in"
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 21:18:17 GMT
He smiled. "Indeed, I will keep my eyes on the case for a while still, I think. You never know if the painting pops up some where. The Sign always does, it seems."
He disconnects the USB-drive and carefully pockets it. standing with a smile. "Why thank you, and I must say, the pleasure was all mine."
He fishes a calling card from his breast pocket and presses it in her hand, while kissing the back of it. "In case you ever want to visit an art gallery before the public does...you know where to find me."
He leaves a single moment of pause and silence.
"Goodbye...Matilda. Until we meet again."
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2017 23:55:39 GMT
He mentioned that sign. The one he shouted at Dickens about she assumes. He seems to think Dickens was up to something in that house. If only he knew what really happened there. He would pray to any God. Maybe her God if she carried on flirting.
She takes the card that Jeremy gave her "Well erm the pleasure was all mine... I erm might even take you up on that offer she knows she is babbling like a school girl and blushes when he kisses her hand.
"Goodbye Jeremy. Hope to see you again"she means that as a genuine thing, she would want to see him again, pitty he could just be using her.
Matilda heads back to her desk with a smile and a spring in her step.
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