Page 119 of Changeling
Brown eyes rolled slightly in distaste. “Library Science Masters. If I work here I’m closer to home after classes in Denver. Believe me, knowing that after work I’d have to drive a half hour home would totally ruin my motivation to ever show up. Not that I like admitting I still live with my mother at twenty-six but you do what you gotta do. Can I help you with something?”
“Right.” Nathan offered a friendly smile. “Do you got any books about this area earlier 1800s and before? Ya know, pre ‘this is our town’ kinda stuff?”
Iain looked thoughtful a moment before saying, “Yeah, I think we have a section downstairs for older regional work. Might even be some original texts by pioneers. I’ll show you,” he offered, pulling out the little sign for his desk that said ‘Be Back Soon’. “It’s a maze down there.” He walked around the desk to slip out from behind it and motioned for Nathan to follow him.
Iain was dressed fairly casual in khakis, a dark burgundy T-shirt, and an earthy green zip-up. The Converse sneakers wouldn’t have been surprising if not for the flash of bright socks covered in hearts.
“Is there anything in particular you’re interested in about the area?” Iain looked back. He was turning lights on as he led Nathan downstairs, taking him further and further into the deep stacks.
“You’re not leading me into a horror movie down here, are you?” Nathan joked.
A chuckle rose from Iain again. “I make no promises,” he said with another glance over his shoulder. Mischief danced in his warm brown eyes.
“Well, if it doesn’t freak you out too much,” Nathan said, “I’m actually looking into…paranormal stuff.” It was rare that he felt comfortable being honest like that, but he had a feeling Iain wouldn’t just dismiss him.
To the guy’s credit, he didn’t even flinch, just paused for a moment, turned to Nathan, and asked, “You mean like ghost sightings, Indian Witch Doctors, monsters in the Rockies kinda stuff?”
“Exactly. Specifically around the town, maybe before its founding. Kind of a hobby of mine.” Nathan shrugged, which at least wasn’t a complete lie.
That wide, toothy smile of Iain’s beamed back at Nathan. “Shit yeah, same here. Used to love all that supernatural stuff as a kid, especially local ghost stories. I always get back into it again when weird stuff like what’s been happening lately starts up again. Not that I get a kick out of other people’s misfortunes or anything. Unless it’s TV. Here,” he pushed on, turning back where they had come from and taking a different passageway into further stacks, “we want to go this way for that.”
“So you know about all the missing people and, uhh…other weird stuff that’s been happening?” Nathan asked.
“Five missing people in a month in a town this size? It’s fucking ridiculous. Most years we’d get a few days of crazy and one person would go missing, butthis?”
“This has happened before?”
“Almost every year far back as I can remember,” Iain nodded. “Just sort of happens, never any particular time. No one ever pays much mind since it’s so spread out and usually not assevere. Freaks me out, sure, but I figure shit happens. Just gotta hope shit doesn’t happen to you.”
Iain was grinning as he stopped finally at the shelf he had been looking for. He gave a grand gesture with his arm. “Regional supernatural galore. I’ve looked through most of them myself at some time or another. If you’re interested because of what’s been happening recently, I’d say start with the mine. I’ve always believed this shit comes from there. Too much a coward myself to check it out though. Bad vibes, ya know?”
Yeah, Nathan definitely knew. But he was starting to think he didn’t need a book so much as some time alone with this guy. “Hey, ya know, I’m not really one for the book research to be honest, not to offend your science of libraries thing.”
“Library Science,” Iain chuckled, shoving his hands into his large pockets as he rocked a little back on his heels. “Basically means I’ll have a Masters in being a librarian. I think it’d be kinda cool to get a job as a research librarian at a college somewhere. Ya know, be the guy all the students have to go to when they’re writing papers and shit. Plus I love books. Even being back in the dusty stacks. Did you want a recommendation for one of these?” he asked, nodding up at the shelf.
“Actually, maybe I could pick your brain for a while instead. You got some time? To be perfectly honest with you, we’re hoping we can maybe put an end to all of this.”
“We?” Iain prompted, looking a little disappointed, Nathan thought, though he couldn’t imagine why.
“Yeah, there’s a group of us. Those others in the study room. Might even head into that mine if all signs actually point there, but we like to be prepared, know what we’re getting ourselves into. Can I steal you away?”
There was the slightest bit of color that flushed to Iain’s face and he laughed again, like he couldn’t help himself. “Ms. Grimmauld would notice I’m gone and I really can’t risk losingthis job. Part of the requirements for graduating. But I’d like to help. I probably know everything in these books anyway. Maybe when I get off?” he said, head lowered a little and eyes looking up from beneath long lashes. “I’m done at three. We could…meet somewhere.”
“Perfect,” Nathan smiled. He gave Iain’s arm a friendly pat. “Better bring back one of these books anyway though or my brother will bitch me out for wasting time. Anything on the caves of that mine?”
Iain gave Nathan two books, one a more historical account and the other fiction written about Harold Autry that Iain had always suspected held more truth than most people wanted to believe.
On their way back up the stairs, Iain stopped Nathan just at the landing and said, “Hey, you never actually gave me your name.”
“Nathan Grier,” he said, moving the books to one hand so he could offer the other to Iain, which the brunette took and shook gratefully.
“Cool. I’m not gonna be swarmed by all of you come three o’clock, am I?” he asked with a nod towards the study room. They could see inside the large window from where they were and the three people inside. “You guys really a bunch of ghost hunters or something?”
“Kinda,” Nathan said. “And don’t worry about being swarmed. I’m sure we’ll be mostly split by then checking different leads. Might just be me.”
Iain’s smile seemed to soften at its edges, warm like his eyes, and he laughed very lightly again. “Awesome,” he said, his gaze lingering steady and centered on Nathan. Then he looked away, grinned a little more crookedly, and said, “See you then,” before sauntering with long shuffling strides back to the Help Desk.
Realization crept up on Nathan slowly so that he had actually turned around and was on his way back to the study room beforeit hit him that what he had just experienced was not a simple friendly conversation. He was pretty sure his face was sheet white by the time he sank back into his chair and reached for his now lukewarm coffee.
