Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, so please don't sue me, that won't be cool.
Chapter 1
Aidan Leeson stood on the edge of the sidewalk, wincing at the rain that beat down on his face. He shook his soaking blonde hair out of his eyes, and drew his hood over his head. A black pickup pulled over to the curb, and Aidan approached the passenger side window. He had a short discussion with the driver, before opening the door and sliding in the front seat.
The pickup slowly pulled away and disappeared into the darkness.
12 hours missing
Malone Residence
Jack Malone moaned and turned over in his bed, groping for his cell phone that lay on the nightstand. With his eyes still closed, he answered.
"Malone"
A familiar voice sounded on the other end, "Jack? It's Danny. We've got a missing 17 year old."
Jack groaned. It was supposed to be his day off. "Ok, I'm coming."
He closed his phone and stared wildly around the room. Finally he got out of the bed and dressed.
Bullpen
Jack entered the office, straightening his tie. Danny smiled, "Hi Jack, sorry to wake you, I know it's your day off."
Jack nodded, "That's fine, what do we have?"
Danny opened the beige folder that lay on his desk and handed a photo of Aidan to Jack.
"Aidan Leeson, 17, attends St.Matthew's Prep. Mom said she came home from nightshift and checked his bedroom. He never even came home from school."
Jack surveyed the school photograph of Aidan, before placing it up on the whiteboard. The smiling Aidan stared back at him.
"We should go to his school first. See what we can find out from his friends and teachers."
Danny nodded and followed Jack out of the office.
St.Matthew's Prep
Jack entered the empty classroom and focused on the boy sitting in a chair at the back. He pulled out his badge and introduced himself.
"Hi, I'm special agent Jack Malone, it's nice to meet you Gabe."
He pulled a chair from a nearby desk and sat down across from Gabe. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Jack stared at him.
"Your friend Aidan's been missing for over 12 hours, do you have any idea where he might be?"
Gabe stared down at the floor. "No, I talked to him last night and he didn't mention anything about it."
Jack pulled out a pad of paper, "Do you and Aidan talk often?"
"Yeah we've been best friends since the third grade. We got stuck in this hellhole together."
Jack looked up from his writing. "You don't like it here?"
Gabe gave a weak smile, "We're surrounded by all these rich kids whose parents pay their teachers to pass their asses. Me and Aidan are one of the few kids that don't board here." He pulled at his tie, "Our parents gave us some bullshit about working hard and getting better jobs than they have, and they expected this place to help us become successful."
Jack closed his notepad, "I know what it's like around here, I went to a prep school too. Was Aidan involved in the wrong crowd?"
Gabe narrowed his eyes and stared at Jack, "No, I don't know what you're talking about."
The bell rang to end second period and Gabe stood up abruptly.
"I have to go, I'll be late." He rushed towards the door and slammed it shut behind him. After a few moments, Jack exited the classroom too.