The Body in the Stacks

J. C. Shelby had never worked in a library before. He didn’t know how libraries were supposed to smell. He wasn’t sure he liked the smell of this one – not that he had much choice. The student employment office had very few jobs open. For a criminal justice major the library was probably the right place. He not only had to finish a few undergrad courses but he had a thesis to get under way. Here he could steal a few minutes of spare time to begin his research and he would learn pretty rapidly where all the bodies – uh – the books were buried. This was the obvious place. Other available student work was all of the grounds keeping variety. His stint in the Navy had included boot camp where he had his fill of “gardening” – referred to as policing the grinder, or the lawns around the chief’s quarters.

At the ripe old age of twenty-four he could be considered to be the old man of the entering student body this fall. He had started prelaw studies at San Francisco State University right out of high school but had not got far. After two years, family crises had dictated he join the military and see the world – and incidentally - support himself. Sidetracked out of law by Navy service he concluded that a major in criminal justice might be more fun anyway. His last year’s experience in the Navy had convinced him of that. The law was interesting but there was too much deskwork – not enough action.

            From the outside the library building was imposing – four stories tall - big for this small college. He sprinted up the broad steps and passed between the two faux Greek pillars framing the main entrance and entered the lobby. He stepped up to the front desk where a very pretty young lady was deeply engrossed in what he presumed was important book business.

            She finally looked up from her monitor screen, giving him a brilliant smile, “Can I help you?”

            Maybe working in this building wouldn’t be bad at all. “Hi, I’m new here. I’m supposed to see the head librarian,” he said.

            She gave him another brilliant smile, “Sure. You just looked a little old to be ‘new.’ The Director of Library and Information Services is Dr. Lockwood – James Lockwood. His office is on the second floor at the end of the hall – at the front of the building.”

            It was clear that Susan liked the looks of the new student. Not many of her acquaintances had the mature look of this one. He was well put together, deeply tanned from his Naval duties – although she didn’t know any of that. He had dark hair and strikingly blue eyes. He was definitely not forgettable. She also hoped he would be around the library a lot. She would have been ecstatic if she had known he was the new student hire for the library.

            Susan, that was her name according to the small plaque facing him on the reception counter, pointed to the staircase to her left that led up to the second floor that housed the suites of offices and several small meeting rooms. Next to the stairs were two elevators that JC presumed led to all the floors above. Through an opening to the right of the stairs and elevators he glimpsed a large cavernous student study and work area. It apparently housed several dozen computer stations and had open shelves of books arrayed around some of the walls. He later learned that these books were the current arrivals that were available for browsing for a month before they were shelved on floors three and four.  His stay here would be distinctly pleasant – if it just weren’t for the smell.