“No. We weren’t sure where to start.”
“Come this way.” The man motioned us to follow him and led us to a computer along one wall. “All our microfiche is catalogued in various ways on here.” He tipped a finger toward the monitor. “Do you know what newspaper and what edition you’re looking for?”
Luke and I shared a look.
I lifted a shoulder. “Sort of? We have a list of names and dates.” I reached into my purse and removed the folded-up sheet of paper.
“That’s more than what some people come with.” The man held up a hand. “May I?”
I handed him the list. “Please.”
Taking it, he unfolded it and sat down. “I’ll get you started, so you know how to use the database.” He typed the first name into the search bar.
A list of results popped up. Withdrawing a pen from his shirt pocket, he wrote down the catalogue number for the first couple of listings, where the name appeared exact. “We can search by date as well, if you want?”
I glanced at Luke, and by some silent communication, we both agreed not to do that. He shook his head, and I turned to the librarian.
“For that name, I think we’re good,” I said.
The man nodded. “All right.” Leaving the paper on the desk, he got up. “I will leave you to it. When you finish your search, bring me the catalogue numbers and I’ll fetch the microfiche rolls for you. I will also tell you I don’t think you’ll get through all the rolls tonight before we close. That’s a lot of names.”
After we thanked the man, he wandered back to his desk.
Luke motioned for me to take a seat, then crouched beside me. “You search; I’ll write.” A small crease formed between his brows. “Although I need a pen.”
Smiling, I passed him my purse. “There’s one in here.”
With slightly wide eyes, he took the bag. “You want me to dig through your purse?”
A half-smile tipped my mouth, and I turned toward the computer screen. “There isn’t anything in it that’s embarrassing.” I traded bags like my underwear, so any purse I carried usually only held the essentials.
He opened it and peered inside. “Still. I know several women who guard their bags like Cerberus guards the gates of Hades.”
I sent him a quick look, surprised at the reference, then chuckled. “Maybe if you got into it without permission, I’d get a little grouchy.”
“Understandable.” He reached in and pulled out a pen. With a quick click, he was ready. “Hit me.”
I typed in the next name on the list. Within seconds, we had several entries. I read off the catalogue numbers for Luke to write down.
After checking two more names, I paused. “Do we want to get reference numbers for all of the names, or should we stop here for now?”
Luke looked at the paper, cocking his head. He clucked his tongue, then met my gaze. “We could stop. See what pans out in what we have.”
I nodded once and pushed back from the desk. “Let’s go find that librarian.”
That turned out to be the easiest thing about the next fifteen minutes. Who knew microfiche could be so uncooperative?
I heaved a sigh as the microfiche tried to unspool itself again from the machine. “I don’t remember it being this hard.” I cast a quick look up at Luke, who hovered next to me.
“You want me to try?”
Thoroughly done with fighting the film, I stood up before he could change his mind. “Have at it.” I swept a hand toward my vacated chair.
Grinning, he sat down. Lacing his fingers, he stretched out his arms and turned his hands, cracking his knuckles. “I think you just weren’t paying attention. It didn’t look that difficult.”
“Mmm, sure.” I crossed my arms and waited for the inevitable chaos.
On his first try, the film slipped right off the reel, flapping noisily.
