CHAPTER 6 : A BREAKDOWN IN COLLEGE SECURITY
The week following Bournemouth was without incident. Arthur still caught sight of the four of them in the Dining Room but made no contact. Merlin and he checked up on each other before they turned in and planned to meet up as was usual for an early supper on Thursday. Merlin mentioned that the work load seemed to be getting heavier and he was glad that everything was quiet on the home front.
Quiet it might have been for them, however Arthur knew through Angus that the wheels were in motion in Glassmacher's office to find the missing reports. Each report was checked at source and had been sent on to the committee. The fact that nothing had arrived meant checking its transit or lack of the same through the college mail system.
There was a two percent loss of reports, some of which turned up later and others it was discovered had not been correctly addressed or even put into the system. Each department whether Porters, maintenance or security were asked to search their files and make duplicate copies which would be hand delivered to the Discipline committee.
The only reports received were a police report regarding Merlin's accident during Hilary and the fire report during Trinity both sent from external sources. One of the committee members was heard to say, "How can we make decisions when reports are not delivered on time? Some of what we are looking for is from Michaelmas."
Mr. Bates was called on the carpet and reported that various reports had been sent by the security division. He presented the lists with the dates. As they were trying to keep under wraps that reports might have been side-tracked, it was on a need to know basis with the information restricted to two people in each department, for example, Mr Bates and a Mr Taggart and the Head Porter and Drake.
A pattern started to emerge, reports had been made, they were sent through the college mail system, presumably diverted by a third party and never seen again. Glassmacher and his committee were surprised at how much had happened in two terms to the four AC students.
One of the older professors had stated, "And this is an example of how Magdalen treats its youngest students. We state that we offer a safe supervised place for parents to send their sons and daughters. I'm shocked at what has happened. I'll be interested in meeting this…" he glanced at his papers, "Mr Emrys, who is still academically holding his own while having to deal with physical threats and this rubbish," he said flapping his hand at the photos of the parcel's contents.
A professor, Sylvain Marchand said, "…and I paraphrase, 'An engaging environment for enquiry and discovery…our students' welfare and well-being is taken seriously…students are well supported and cared for.' This is how we advertise our college."
"Well, someone slipped up somewhere!" the acting secretary said.
-0-0-
It took them nine working days to figure it all out. It involved theft and the hiding of stolen goods.
According to plan, the Head Porter made a parcel of magazines and newspapers for weight. It was wrapped in brown paper and four inch red adhesive tape was used so that it would be easily recognisable and traced. It was addressed to a Mr M. Emrys. The Head Porter mentioned in passing, to the mail room staffer who picked up packages and reports that it had been found on Staircase K and been refused by Mr Emrys, so he had hastily scrawled, across it: To Discipline Council, Attention Dr Glassmacher, making sure that the name of the original recipient was still clearly visible.
He handed the parcel over, then phoned the mail department manager who would await its arrival, giving the name of the worker and the time which it left the Porters' Lodge.
The package arrived in the mail department and was held in the locked area for parcels awaiting delivery the following day. The manager notified Dr, Glassmacher's office that it was not scheduled to be removed until the following afternoon when it would go by van to its destination. Mornings were devoted to the delivery of all letters and small packages.
That same parcel was missing from the manifesto the following afternoon as the van was loaded. The name had been crossed out with an undistinguishable signature beside it. A thorough search was made but no parcel with red tape was found. A report had to be made for internal reasons and the name of the worker loading the van, and the parcel's transit number were noted. Someone had had access to the parcel lockers and had taken the red taped package.
On Wednesday, a test mailing in the form of a folder was made from Claudio to Dr. Glassmacher and delivered within the day, apart from the name of the sender and the recipient no other information was included. Claudio arranged for the second letter to be put in the system. It was delivered to the sorting area late afternoon addressed to Dr Ellis as AC coordinator to be delivered the following day.
By Thursday noon, Dr, Ellis's letter although it was stamped as having reached the mail sorting area at five-thirty was never received by either her or her secretary. Again this information was forwarded to Dr. Glassmacher. Security was notified and they agreed to keep the mail facility on their list of areas for regular overnight patrols. The Under-manager agreed to do a couple of hours extra and remain on site until security took over.
A note was posted on the bulletin board that Mail department staff were no longer able to come and go at will. For the immediate future, they would sign in and out on their shifts. There was grumbling but the manager explained that it was due to the fact that at this time of year much of the mail was confidential. Soon they workers settled down accepting the explanation.
One chap said, "But I thought that anything like exam questions were hand delivered by internal runners."
"They are, as I worked a couple of shifts for them last year. I think security there is almost as strict as at the Queen's Jewels in the Tower of London. This must be something else…but as long as we get our pay and our breaks, not much else we can do."
Security cameras were fixed in the corridor opposite the mail room and at the back entrance near where bulkier parcels are loaded on the van for delivery.
On Saturday, the security films were scanned and overnight, two unidentified figures resembling students passed the first camera but neither tried to enter the mailroom. The second camera at the back showed no activity. The fact that there were people down there at night was surprising as the mailroom corridor did not lead to any student accommodations.
Claudio was at it again on Monday, as he was to send three letters. Two were sent from M. Emrys, one to Dr. Glassmacher and the other to Claudio himself. Each envelope contained an unsigned form letter. The third letter including the same unsigned letter was sent to Dr. Glassmacher but this time from himself and dropped in the collection box at the same time.
Claudio notified Dr. Glassmacher's secretary by phone of the time the three letters were mailed. By late that afternoon, only the last missive was delivered, the two letters with Merlin's name as the sender never turned up.
Monday night, a pair of security officers saw someone in hallway near the mail sorting room, but they disappeared before being apprehended. There was a car at approximately the same time on the security camera tapes when they were checked the following morning.
There were too many people watching the areas and finally someone was identified. It was not a student but a male who possessed a number of security pass keys which obviously belonged to a student. He was caught twice on camera removing packages from the locked area and also of rifling through sorted mail and taking various files and letters.
Dr. Galssmacher department was notified and he wanted more information and even if possible an actual sighting by a member of the security as apposed to just the security tapes.
Norbert gave Angus the heads up but requested that he not tell anyone else.
The local police were involved and finally a month later an arrest was made in a private building with flats available for student accommodation. The charges included burglary and theft. No names were published as the college decided to play it down as from their point of view the person arrested was not the master mind and showing their cards would have driven whomever that was to ground.
They had a general idea of the name of the mastermind as it was on the rental lease of the flat. Glassmacher preferred to take his time and wait before he pounced. All envelopes, folders and packages in the flat were catalogued and photographed. The star was the red adhesive taped parcel which had started the recovery.
However, the Chair of the Discipline Committee was more interested in the parcel containing the scarf and note which Arthur had tried to mail to him. One again it was on a need to know basis but slowly the sorting room staff found the restrictions were again lifted and work progressed as per normal.
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Merlin was oblivious to all the commotion. The last two week had gone well and he was in great spirits when he had spoken to Arthur that night. The week had progressed without any problems, it was what he had expected college to be like, great tutorials, good company, and a satisfaction at the end of the day when he had all his essays were completed. Even eating in the Dining Hall had been pleasant as the few seats occupied by Baxter and his friends had been empty while he was there.
On Thursday, he was so ahead of his work schedule that he agreed to go to Arthur's for an early supper. As it was a beautiful evening they decided to attend a friendly between two of the colleges football teams which were playing locally. Merlin thoroughly enjoyed himself and Arthur noticed a few of his friends from years ago. They were invited out for drinks but Merlin declined as he needed to get back but encouraged Arthur to go off with them. He saw his neighbour Richard so decided to tag along with him and his friends back to the residence.
Arthur got talking to some of the people who'd been through the Baxter episode three years ago. He off handedly mentioned the friction between two freshers during his first year to another student called Mack who was officially Chris MacFarlane.
"He hasn't changed you know, Baxter's still as nasty as before but it seems he's set his sights on a group of freshers who are in an accelerated course."
Arthur played it low key, trying to seem only semi curious but Matt who happened to be there pushed the speaker to tell more. "Mack, have you spoken to him since our first year?"
"No, but Steve over there" he pointed to a tall man next to the bar, shares a flat in the same building as Baxter and his buddy."
"He now lives off campus?" Arthur asked in passing.
"Supposedly, however I have a feeling that he might also have a room in residence somewhere, as according to Steve the wild parties only happen when Baxter is around. Nasty creature really, I'll never forgive him for what he did to Kevin that first year. Still can't understand why he was ever allowed back."
Arthur shrugged saying, "I think there are many people who would like to know the answer to that question."
"You know who you should talk to, a chap called Carlton, he used to be cheek to jowl with Baxter but something happened and now they are sworn enemies. He's a strong-willed character and I think that Baxter is afraid of him. I know he was dragged before the Dean after Kevin's incident and I think that maybe he was considered an accomplice after the fact and a withholder of information. Never heard anything more but he was off for maybe a term and then came back."
Matt said, "I know him, so does Laurence," he turned to Arthur saying, "Look who's here by the way." Arthur looked where he was pointing and saw Laurence and nodded at him. Matt continued, "Carlton was away for three months and then came back, he was a changed character, diligent in his studies and managed to make up missed courses. I'll introduce you to him some time."
"Yeah, he really has pulled up his socks. Why are you interested in Baxter though, planning to write a novel about some of the disreputable scholars from your freshman year at Oxford?"
Arthur thought if it were only that simple, he laughed saying, "No, Mack, just that when I get back in with the old group I remember that first year in Waynflete."
"Rumours went around our third year," Mack said, "that he was allowed back because he was related to our dear Bishop Founder. Actually, it's possible as his last name is double-barrelled as in Waynflete-Carter."
"Pick a name! Right?" Matt said laughing. "I think that a double-barrelled shotgun might have been of some use that first year." He never let on about being part of a group who were trying to figure out what was happening to Merlin and the other AC students and more importantly why.
The little group broke up but Arthur was determined to follow up about Baxter's possible off campus flat and maybe make contact with Carlton whom he remembered as having been on the outer edge of Baxter's gang in their freshman year.
Laurence and he walked home together and Arthur mentioned about Carlton. Laurence nodded he remembered him, "He's a regular chap. I can introduce you to him but I don't know that he will be willing to talk about his freshman year. He was actually on the bench tonight but didn't get to play. I haven't thought about him and Baxter as I was not conscious at the time of their being involved."
Arthur nodded, the information that would solve Merlin's problems was probably staring them in the face and they couldn't see it. Arthur said, "Do you know a guy called Steve? Don't know his last name but Mack seems to think that Baxter has a flat in his building in Oxford and is there on weekends."
"If that flat really exists, I wouldn't mind having a snoop around there!"
"It would be an excellent place to hide stuff. However, I think the police would have to be involved to get it searched as it's off college property."
"Maybe if the college was involved, getting the police to secure a search warrant would be easier," Laurence said as they reached the condo.
Little did either of them know that the ball was already in the college's court.
-0-0-
Merlin was still upbeat when he arrived home, he had only one more day and this possibly would be a week without interference by Baxter. He was also pleased that Arthur had gone off with his friends. He felt that many times Arthur put his friends on the back burner so that he could spend time keeping an eye on him, for which he felt grateful and guilty at the same time.
Arthur had certainly managed to get him to where he was today. He sat on his bed thinking, 'There might have been a few days when I would have had second thoughts about coming out of my room, even to attend tutorials.' He thought if only the rest of the term could be as normal.
Friday was always a relaxed day, if you had kept up with all your assignments. Merlin was good with time management and had everything up to date. Toby and he had spent a few evenings in the library to make sure that everything was finished. There had always been the slight worry that upon returning to their rooms, someone might have gained access but everything seemed fine and all doors were securely locked.
Once again the chairs on the next table were vacant and Merlin wondered if that handful of students had different schedules and ate later than they did. Not that he cared what time they ate as long as they were not there to annoy him during his meals.
The day went by quickly and soon it was three-thirty and he was waiting to hear from Arthur. The weather was nice so he went into the Quad and sat by the fountain making sure that he had his phone with him. He watched his fellow students who were also sitting around and wondered if any of them had problems as they seemed quite carefree.
Suddenly, he was conscious of Arthur striding across the Quad. He looked at him realising again what a handsome man his boyfriend was. He stood up as he came closer and went to greet him but he could tell from the look on Arthur's face that he was not happy.
"I've been going out of my mind, I tried to call but you never picked up. What happened? All sorts of crazy things went through my mind that you were sick or that something had happened at home."
Merlin fumbled for his phone and realise that it was not only turned off but the battery was dead. He'd forgotten to plug in it after he'd returned to his room last night. He said, "Battery's dead!"
He noticed that Arthur's face relaxed a little but not completely as he said, "Well at least you're alive. Your neighbour Richard told me you'd gone out to the Quad." The tenseness went out of his face as he said, "I feel almost one hundred percent better just seeing you."
He didn't mention that he had had a chat with Des Morley from Baxter's floor in residence who had said that he had not seen him all week and the floor had actually been comparatively quiet. Adi Chawla also reported no action from his neighbour Mike Barkley's room who was also a crony of Baxter.
Arthur noticed that Merlin was in high sprits and seemed without a care in the world except that his phone was dead. He could not help but be carried along by his positive mood.
"Are you staying over with me this weekend? We have the place to ourselves…"
"Is that an invitation or a polite summons?"
"Both but I think that it leans towards the summons scale of things as I would be heartbroken being alone in either that huge bed or oversized tub."
"Then I will certainly comply with your wishes as I've had a fantastic week and deserve one hell of a weekend!" They dropped by Merlin's room to get his camera and made their way to where Arthur parked his car. "I feel as if I should be contributing to your parking expenses as you seem to spend so much time here."
"No need to as I get a good term rate and anyway, I do come here for college everyday."
"Do you?" Merlin said laughing, "Can you imagine if we were able to act like a normal couple and sit together with our friends. That would be lovely as you have a few lunch breaks which coincide with mine."
"Merlin," Arthur said laughing, "we are here to study not socialise, I'd never get anything done. You'd be on my mind twenty-four seven.'
Slipping his hand noticeably higher on Arthur's thigh, Merlin said innocently, "…and I'm not?"
Arthur chuckled saying, "Well, now that you mention it…always! Anyway, I'm sure what you are now doing is against the rules for passenger behaviour when the driver is operating a motor vehicle. I might get distracted and run right into a parked car and smash up my favourite Opal."
"We could park!"
"We're just on our way…how about you concentrate on the scenery and let me concentrate on the driving. However, hold that thought and I promise we will revisit it once we reach the condo."
"…in the underground parking garage?" Merlin suggested.
Arthur laughed, "Oh, I can see it's going to be one of those weekends…" He was thrilled; he loved it when his old Merlin was back.