corbett_prof (corbett_prof) wrote in low_tide, @ 2009-11-14 21:08:00 |
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Entry tags: | corbett renfroe |
Research
Being named the new associate professor of history at Florida Keys Community College was odd enough, considering it was the middle of November and finals would be coming up in a few weeks. But for Corbett Renfroe, the true oddity was what led to him being named to the position. The old professor, a man named Kendall Ivanov, had been found dead just offshore three weeks ago, after going missing for five days.
Authorities were in the dark as to how Dr. Ivanov disappeared or what killed him; autopsy results were still classified. Corbett had an idea of what he thought might’ve happened, but unless the coroner let him see the body – which was highly doubtful – it was just one of those weird instances.
By all accounts, there had been a lot of those lately.
Even with the class he had to finish teaching – American History After 1865 – Corbett had a lot of time on his hands. Good thing, too; it gave Corbett more time to shore up on local info – everything from typical hot spots to recent reports and rumors of an up-tick in supernatural activity. The Council sent Corbett to the southernmost city in Florida for just that reason; he didn’t really consider Key West a bastion of paranormal activity, but there appeared to be evidence to the contrary.
But no one seemed to know why. Not that Corbett had exactly asked anyone; he’d probably look like a damn fool going around asking people whether they’d seen anything out of the ordinary of late or if they’d noticed an increase in the supernatural population. People already looked at him like he was an outsider – because he was – Corbett didn’t need everyone questioning his mental health too.
Campus was closed – it was a Saturday – but Corbett was holed up in his office because it gave him access to a computer with Internet access. Not that the Watcher was a computer expert, but at least he knew how to access email and whatever files the Council sent for him.
Nothing truly substantial at the moment, just a collection of possible scenarios derived from occult research, as well as Council-commissioned divination and psychics. Corbett had trouble reading much of it without keeping any number of his personal texts on-hand; one PDF needed translation from an ancient Germanic dialect, and another document directed Corbett to his copy of the Paragorn Codex.
Problem was, Corbett had the wrong tome. He had volume two, but needed volume four.
The Watcher kept the blinds closed, not wanting to distract himself with the Florida sunshine. Corbett wasn’t used to weather this pleasant this late in the year; typically, he was using windbreakers and scarves come mid-November. Not that Corbett didn’t enjoy it; he did. Which was why he had the blinds closed.
He also kept the lights off, not wanting to fight the glare on his computer monitor. The display reflected off the lenses of his glasses, Corbett reading a report from a Council satellite office located on the East Coast. He wondered where the Watcher who wrote this report got the statistics – somehow, Corbett figured a vampire census was a virtual impossibility.
Still, if these numbers were anywhere close to right, it was useful knowledge.
The Watcher glanced at his personal notes, compiled on a Word document he kept on a personal flash drive. He kept another Word document – in this case, an essay on the Emancipation Proclamation – open at all times, just in case a school colleague happened across the office and would up peering at the monitor.
So far, all he knew about Key West was its location, its borderline-tropical atmosphere, even in November, and the fact that there was no Hellmouth or other previously-known source of supernatural attraction. Council records were scarce when it came to this part of Florida, which meant whatever was going on here was a recent phenomenon.
Aside from that, Corbett was at a loss. He’d spoken with a Watcher stationed in Dallas the night prior, and had refused to bite when his colleague asked him to guess. Corbett didn’t guess; speculation wasn’t his game. Like a scientist, Corbett lived primarily with the facts. Only when he had all the facts would Corbett reach conclusions, but he would never jump blindly.
Fourteen mysterious deaths within the last month, police records indicating seven new missing persons’ cases in the past week and a half. Corbett removed his glasses with a frown and a sigh, chewing on the tip of the left earpiece. He was flying blind, and the more the Watcher thought things through, the more he realized he wouldn’t get very far unless he started making some contacts in the area.
Trouble was, he didn’t know much about the supernatural community in Key West. He’d have to do some digging to find out, too … it wasn’t as if members would be walking around with neon signs around their necks.
Leaning forward in his chair, Corbett put his glasses back on and began typing. His fingers were almost a blur as they danced over the keyboard, the soft taps filling the dark space of his office.
No new information since last report. Beginning to think I might not be able to solve this puzzle on my own. Will begin searching for trustworthy sources. Also need to follow up on Dr. Ivanov’s case.
Saving the document, Corbett closed the file and logged himself out of the network. He opened the blinds as the computer shut down, in order to let a little more light into the office. The sun was on its way down, but there was still a good bit of light over the campus. Corbett had plenty of time to get home and continue preparing for Monday’s lecture.