Brandon digs around in Annalee’s room. In the closet are two boxes – one with a selection of DVDs, one with CDs. The DVDs include several documentary filmmakers: Peter Davis’ Hearts and Minds, Gillo Pontecarvo’s Battle of Algiers, Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine, Ken Burns’ Jazz (with a little note indicating that it was a Hanukkah present from her father), and others. The CDs are what one might expect to see from a teenage girl circa the Nineties who’s since moved on to other things: Spice Girls, N’sync, 98degrees, and The New Rebels. There is some clothing and other personal effects.
In the study, Kristen and Decker peruse the doctor’s books and papers. There is nothing that jumps out at you about the books on the shelves – all is what you would expect to find from a former professor and current researcher in the field. Stored on a shelf under the desk are several software manuals and boxes – on top is a desktop calendar. The calendar is blank, but on the underside written in Dr. Gold’s hand is the phrase, “Mr. Lucky.”
Booting up the computer, Kristen and Decker next root through Gold’s files. Much of what is on the hard drive is similar to what was found on his workstation at Martin Pharmacology – more research articles, his calendar synced to the one at work. There are also some personal touches – links to a variety of blues websites in his Favorites folder, a copy of Doom II, a how-to guide to roulette. There is also an email archive that contains no surprises. His address book is on the computer as well, including Annalee’s contact information.
Kristen notes something as she looks over the programs on the computer – on the shelf under the desk are copies of manuals for Quattro Clinical and CAVS, both programs that are used in biomedical research. However, the programs are not on the Gold’s computer – quickly accessing her own account at Martin Pharmacology, she realizes that while both programs are available from the server through her workstation, they are not loaded onto the company laptops, either.
It takes more than an hour to poke through Gold’s files on the computer, and the sky is darkening – sunset isn’t far away, and it’s getting increasingly difficult to search in the shadows of the house.
I allowed take 20s on the Search checks but not the Research check – that would mean spending about 40 hours in the house to accomplish. If you want to make camp in Dr. Gold’s residence for a couple of days, that’s fine – let me know and I’ll adjust accordingly.
There was time for Brandon to do more than rummage through a co-ed's personal belongings – was there anything else he wanted to do while Kristen and Decker were on the computer?
Hawk, a Spot check if you please.
