Two Heads are Better than One

[st_clare]

The days in late January were just the slightest bit longer, but the weather was still crisp. The highway had been one long stretch of asphalt, only a few cars and the occasional semi sharing the road.

Julianna had taken the day off, leaving her teaching duties to Clarissa, so that she and Gerald could make the drive to Searchlight. They didn't have a town hall, but there was a library there, and she knew from experience that they had some of the town archives in a special section. She already had her reason prepared, that she was planning a lecture about local history of Clark County and needed to see surveyor's maps and census figures from when the township was first established.

She parked the BMW in the lot, killed the engine and got out. She'd worn a light jacket against the slight chill of the day, and she tugged it closed as she started towards the building that housed the library. If there was something to be found, surely two sets of eyes could find it.

Comments

Re: Two Heads are Better than One

[ghargreaves]

"He went to school in the east and returned here?" Gerald said with no little hint of disbelief in his voice. "Why on earth would you return here?" he muttered, shaking his head. It had always puzzled him how some individuals didn't appreciate the finer things in life that was not available in tiny towns such as this. He could accept that if one was raised in a world that did not offer the opportunity to become aware of what was available, then one did not miss what one did not know existed, but to be aware of the type of life available to one, and ignore it almost made him question an individual's abilities and intelligence. Either that, or they had some knowledge of their original place of birth that was a greater draw than the possibilities that lay beyond.

"If he's not woken up to himself and returned east, then yes, he could in fact be of some use, and at least provide us with anecdotes," he added reaching into his pocket for his kerchief as he felt a sneeze coming on. Once he had blown his nose, capturing the sneeze itself, he returned his kerchief to his pocket and continued his perusal of the tomes sitting on the shelf.

Re: Two Heads are Better than One

[st_clare]

"That's even more of a mystery than the decision to demolish a church," Julianna replied, because she couldn't imagine it either. Even Las Vegas was preferable to her compared to Searchlight. The East might not have been as glamorous as somewhere overseas, but it certainly would have been an improvement over this place.

"Since he's a local, the librarian might know him," she suggested. "If you'd like, we can visit the cemeteries while the light is still strong, then see if Mr. Montgomery is available. What do you think?"

Re: Two Heads are Better than One

[ghargreaves]

"That's rather a commendable idea, Julianna, and while we're talking to the librarian we can ask if there was anything saved from the old church, perhaps moved to another church somewhere, such as records, or items."

He returned to the table as he spoke and studied a few more of the maps he'd pulled out, making a few mental notes of places and distances.

Re: Two Heads are Better than One

[st_clare]

"Let me tidy this up a bit."

There was a thin film of dust on the tabletop when Julianna closed the ledger, and she had to hunt for the correct spot on the shelf to put the book back. She plucked a tissue from her pocket, then used it to clean up the dust before tossing it into the nearby wastebasket.

It would probably too much to expect to be able to take the Bible with them, so she handed it off to Gerald. She was completely bollocks when it came to maps - she even had trouble with road maps - so she was willing to wait until her colleague was finished with his perusal.

Re: Two Heads are Better than One

[ghargreaves]

It didn't take him long to note the co-ordinates of the marks he could discern might still be there, and carefully returned the maps to the large shallow drawers, ensuring each was flat and stored correctly. He had little tolerance for tardiness in the way such things were stored, knowing from many decades just how important even the most insignificant of marks can make a major difference in deciphering the information. Fold and creases had a way of hiding marks that are meant to be there, disguising their importance, costing maybe many hours, or even years of searching.

"Right we are then," he said, closing the last of the drawers and brushing his hands together. He glanced at his watch then at Julianna. "Shall we take my car? Give my driver something to do," he suggested, making his way toward the door and holding it open for his colleague.

Re: Two Heads are Better than One

[st_clare]

"Yes, I don't see why not," she replied, following after him. Driving in America was easier for her than it was for Gerald, but as long as long as the driver was here, they might as well make use of him.

A few patrons had arrived at the library since the two Watchers arrived, and Julianna waited for the young librarian to finish checking in some materials. There was dust on the fingers of her left hand, and she brushed her hands together.

"Yes, Ma'am, how can I help you?" "I was wondering if you'd know an Albert Montgomery. We found his name in some birth records and discovered that he's related to a past member of the local law enforcement. "Is he currently in town, and if so, would you know where he resides?"

"Oh, Albert? He moved into what was left of the old Montgomery place and fixed it up when he came back. He keeps to himself, though He's a little..."

She touched the side of her head, and Julianna nodded sagely. "I see. Well, we'd like to at least try and speak with him. For research purposes." The librarian looked dubious, but she scrawled down an address on a piece of paper and handed it to the Watcher. "Good luck with getting him to answer the door."

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she told Gerald as she re-joined him. "We can head to the cemeteries first, then try Mr. Montogomery's house. Apparently he's a bit eccentric. He might know something, though."