Lost Films by Max Booth III

Author:Max Booth III [Michelle, Max Booth III and Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epub, ebook, QuarkXPress
Publisher: Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing
Published: 2018-08-11T00:00:00+00:00

September 2

Entry log 001650:

I’m the only staff member to retain access to these logs since management changeover began in April. The system will auto-flag me if I fail to save at least one daily update, but no one’s reading this. No other log-ons, no requests to look at security footage in three months, my routine patrol reports go unread on the boss’s desk. The strips of torn paper were still between the pages when I collected them to be filed. It’s a heady freedom in such an otherwise soul-sucking, depraved position. Working seven days a week was meant to be temporary.

***

September 3

05:32 P.M.—Camera Area 01: IT Centre, Internal

The surveillance lens gazes with inanimate apathy from its distant corner, overlooking a cluttered office in its view of the front door. Chris Waite is settled in his chair and spins 90° left to wave at his departing coworkers. Their shift has ended, and they leave the security of Strigidbrook University campus in his impassive hands. The digital image catches Chris’ distracted lips shape the words, “Seeya tomorrow.” The over-saturation of the recording makes the red of his mouth too red, the brown of his short hair almost coppery, the grey of his shirt an aquamarine-edged falsehood of colour.

With a push of his sneaker toe against the grey linoleum flooring, he glides back to his array of computer screens when their exit is complete. His fingers return to their rapid skittering across his fashionable white chicklet keyboard. The camera continues recording, overlooking the back of this thirty-two-year-old man as he reviews the day’s footage, spot checking clips at 8x playback, tapping shortcuts to resume normal video speed when someone or something catches his eye.

Entry log 001651:

A quick scan through the lunch hour videos over the past week has confirmed that Cathy and Declan adjourned every day to the theatre, which is conveniently still closed for renovations. Nothing quite like faculty heads having affairs at work. Must be something in the air. This is the fourth pairing I’ve seen this semester. Given how smitten that young man looks, I’ll have to organise for Cathy to receive an anonymous bouquet and let her blame Declan. Insert evil laughter?

06:28 P.M.—Camera Area 05: Entrance 3, Sports Field and Gym

A long driveway extends beyond visible range, meandering through manicured grass and trimmed hedges. Several branches fallen from mottled white-barked eucalyptus trees are strewn about, their long evergreen leaves like flattened fingers waving at unseen visitors. Groundskeepers would be captured on film in the A.M. as they perpetuate their battle against nature, to keep the University campus appearing pristine enough for its prestigious students.

The orange and blue of sunset makes a picturesque background for the desolate road and distant tennis courts, edged in their powder-coated chain mesh fencing. Empty, save for a solitary figure hastening up the drive.

06:30 P.M.—Camera Area 01: IT Centre, Internal

Chris leans nearer to the second expansive 34” monitor on his left, peering at one of the small rectangles being streamed to him from cameras across the school grounds.

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