A/N: An extra-long chapter to close out 2014. Happy New Year and happy crime solving, everyone!
Steve walked towards the direction of the footsteps, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a little foolish for being so jumpy, he was in a high school for God's sake. What could be dangerous about a high school? He rounded the corner and ran headlong into a middle aged man in a dark blue workman's uniform pushing a large wheeled trash bin, which upset on contact. Steve landed hard on the hall floor with a grunt. Could this day get anymore more embarrassing? He wondered, brushing off the contents of the bin. As he was trying to right himself, a large hand presented itself and helped him to his feet.
"Sorry about that young man, I wasn't looking where I was going," responded the workman nervously. He had the name "Clark" embroidered on his shirt, "I didn't think anyone was back here." The workman continued to look around anxiously as he started scooping up the spilled trash.
"No problem," Steve replied as he continued to pick the remaining bits of rubbish from his clothes. Fortunately, it seemed mostly to be old newspaper, so his clothes were none the worse for wear. Still sore from his Tahoe adventure, a groan escaped his lips when he bent down and helped gather up the trash that has scattered on the floor. Close encounter with a trash can, he thought. Mike would have a field day with this if he ever found out.
As the workman dropped the remaining bits in the bin, he questioned Steve, "So what are you doing back here?"
Holding up his map, Steve replied sheepishly, "Well, truth be told I'm lost. I was looking for Diane Bader and Jeannie Stone, I think they are taking pictures in the C wing. But, this place is a maze."
The janitor seemed to relax and chuckled, "That it is. And frankly, that map is useless. But see here, you are in the D wing, you need to backtrack and make the second left you come to, walk straight away back, and take a right turn at the dead end."
Steve crumpled up the map and added it to the bin. He thanked the janitor and headed off in the correct direction.
ooooooooo
After Steve had left the office, Mike continued his conversation with Mrs. Molen. He had been trying, unsuccessfully, to convince her to show him the discipline records for the two students he was interested in. "Ah, come on Bri, it's me, Mike," turning on the old Mike Stone charm. "I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important."
Unfortunately, Mike had met his match in Mrs. Molen. She smiled just as sweetly, "Mike, I realize it's important, with Mona missing and all." Mike was startled by the last statement, being under the impression that the principal wanted to keep the whole mess quiet. But then again, Mrs. Molen knew about all the skeletons in the closets of Mission High. She continued, "You know darn well I can't release those files without Mr. Pence's approval or a court order. We have a protocol to follow. There must be something about the subject of these discipline referrals that needed to be kept private or else they wouldn't be locked up; besides, the decision to release information is way above my pay grade."
Mike knew he had met his match. He dropped the smile and glared at the uncooperative secretary, "Well get him on the phone then!" He thought better of his tone to Mrs. Moen and added, "Please?"
He looked at his watch while he waited for Brit Molen to contact Mr. Pence. Impatient at the delay, he walked down the hallway with the thought of checking up on Jeannie.
ooooooooo
Jeannie and Diane had made a lot of progress on their assignment, with Diane on the camera and Jeannie on the log book. Although Diane was still off her game due to worry about Mona, the task at hand seemed to even her mood. They were just finishing up the last room on the C hallway when Steve appeared around the corner.
"Hey babe," Jeannie greeted him with surprise in her voice, "What are you doing here?"
He held up the bag from the deli and responded, "Looks like you ladies could use some lunch."
Although Jeannie accepted his explanation, she was slightly suspicious about the nature of his appearance. If she knew Mike like she thought she did, she was sure he had something to do with the visit.
Diane looked on quizzically as Jeannie gave Steve a big hug. Before her stood a handsome man about her age, with winning smile and warm green eyes, only slightly marred by a large purple bruise. He was a little shorter than her, but just about everybody was. "Who's the stranger bearing gifts?" she asked Jeannie with a grin.
"Oh, sorry Diane, this is Steve Keller. He my dad's partner."
A cop? Diane was a little surprised. He did not fit the image of cop she had in her mind. That image ran more toward middle age men with conservative suits and short haircuts. Steve Keller certainly wasn't that. Also, Jeannie's greeting made her think he was a bit more than just her dad's partner."
Jeannie went on with her introduction, "Steve, this is the art teacher I told you about, Diane Bader.
It was now Steve's turn to be surprised. Although Jeannie had not described her, when Steve thought of school teachers, he didn't imagine young, 6 foot tall redheads in overalls. She wasn't conventionally pretty, but there was something about her. When she smiled at him, it seemed to light up the darkened hallway. He smiled back and took her hand, all the while still locked in her gaze. This went on a little too long for Jeannie's liking. He didn't realize that Jeannie was staring at them until she impatiently cleared her throat.
Diane startled a little. Whoa, what just happened there? She thought. Regaining her composure, she suggested that they should head back to her classroom to eat lunch and started rapidly down the hall without waiting for Steve and Jeannie's reply.
"What?" Steve said as Jeannie looked at him in an odd manner. She continued to stare at him as they hurried to catch up with Diane.
ooooooooo
Jeannie returned to her normal, cheerful self when she spotted Mike standing in the hallway near Diane's classroom. She sped up ahead of Steve and gave her dad a hug.
"What are you doing here, Mike?" Jeannie asked as they walked into Diane's classroom.
"Can't your old dad come and take his best girl to lunch while she's in town? I did stand you up yesterday, as I …." He stopped short as the classroom came into full view. The room was trashed. Steve came in just behind them and gaped at the scene. Diane was standing staring blankly in what looked like the eye of a hurricane. Paper was everywhere. Tables were overturned and books were pulled from the shelves. Her desk top had been swept clean of paper and although it was stilled locked, it appeared as if someone had tried to prise it open; on top of that, what looked like gallons of red tempera had been liberally splattered over everything. Painted on the wall in large block letters were the words, "WHAT DO YOU KNOW, BITCH?"
Mike left Jeannie's side and went over and put his hands on Diane's shoulders. For some reason, he felt very protective of the young woman even though he barely knew her. He gently walked her out of the classroom and into the hall followed by Jeannie and Steve.
"Lt. Stone, what are you doing?" Diane asked as she broke his grip and tried to reenter the room. "I need to clean this mess up!"
Steve stopped her before she could get back in the room. "Miss Bader, it's a crime scene, now. Until we can get the lab in there, it needs to stay just as it is," he said sympathetically. When he was sure she wasn't going to go back in, he turned to head to the office and call the crime lab. A light in the classroom across the hall caught his attention. He peered through the window in the door and let out a low whistle.
Mike looked at Steve with a question in his eyes.
"We have another problem, Mike."
Mike looked in the classroom door and shook his head at what he saw. Mona's classroom had also been ransacked. After Jeannie and Diane retrieved their purses from the room, Steve secured Diane's door with the pass key he has been given and checked room A112 to make sure it was locked. With that, Mike and Steve escorted Jeannie and Diane down to the office.
ooooooooo
Bri was just getting off the phone when the office door opened. She handed Mike a message slip: Inspector Russell needed to speak to him. Then seeing the grim look on Miss Bader's face, Mrs. Molen was puzzled. "What's up, Diane?"
When Diane didn't answer, Mike filled in the secretary, "Mrs. Molen, there's been some vandalism in A111 and A112."
Bri Molen looked shocked, "You're kidding, really?" She couldn't believe it. This kind of thing did not happen at Mission High. "Do you think it's related to Miss Holzbaur's disappearance or just a coincidence?"
"It's too soon to tell, but if I had to venture a guess, I'd say yes, it's related." Mike responded. He really did not believe in coincidences.
With the mention of Mona's name, Diane paled and looked like she was going to be sick. Jeannie picked up on it, and got Mike's attention. "Mike, I'm going to take Diane out for some air." He nodded his head and motioned to Steve, not wanting the ladies to go out alone. Steve followed Diane and Jeannie out the main door.
Jeannie sat Diane down on a low wall just outside the main door and dropped down next to her. Steve stood facing them, unsure of what to do next. He looked at the deli bag in his hand and walked to a trash can and tossed it in. As he turned around and looked at Diane, he saw tears begin to fall from her eyes.
"She's gone Jeannie, I know it." Diane said in a whisper. Knowing how close the two were, Jeannie's heart ached for Diane.
ooooooooo
Mike asked Bri Molen if she knew how many people had been in the building this morning.
"I can get you a list of the teams that were practicing, but you'll have to go to the coaches to get the rosters," she replied. "You will also have to talk to the chief custodian to find out who was on duty today," she added. "And who knows who else may have come in when I was busy." Mike let out a heavy sigh, it was never easy, he thought.
Mike got an outside line on the phone and called the crime lab. "We need someone back down at Mission High, there has been some damage done to two classrooms. It is possibly related to missing person scene you worked yesterday. Mrs. Molen was eavesdropping, but she didn't need to hear the other side of the conversation to know that Mike had not gotten the reply he wanted. "What do you mean you can't get here till at least tomorrow? Give me break, Charlie, we've got a missing school teacher out there somewhere." He replied in a strident tone. "Right… yes… right, un hun, as soon as you can then." he said impatiently into the phone before slamming it down. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the phone again and rapidly dialed Inspector Russell.
"Russell, Missing Persons," was the reply on the phone. Mike responded and Scott Russell, "Mike, yeah I've got some news."
Inspector Russell ran down what he had uncovered. While he still hadn't got a hold of the Murrays, two other neighbors confirmed that they had not seen Mona since she left for work on Friday. Another neighbor seemed to think the Murray's had also gone out of town, but they couldn't be sure, well that was no help. He had better luck with Las Vegas PD. Mona Holtzbaur did in fact have a reservation at the Sahara Hotel, but had never showed. The APB had been issued, with no results as yet and his contacts in Vegas were going to check the hospitals and the morgue.
"How does a little old lady disappear without a trace?" Mike asked Scott rhetorically. Inspector Russell didn't reply. With dwindling optimism, Mike told Scott about the new damage to Mission High.
Inspector Russell, searching for something that might yield some clues, suggested they get 20 Cumberland St. processed as well. That drew a terse response from Mike.
"Don't bother, Scott. Well, you can call in the request but they are backed up until at least tomorrow. The holidays, you know, he said sarcastically. Do me one favor though, go down to the lab and see if they have made any more progress with material from yesterday."
Scott asked him if he had spoken to the night shift janitors about Friday. It had totally slipped Mike's mind! He made a note to do that as soon as he took care of Jeannie and Diane.
Mike hung up the phone more gently this time. Remembering the files he wanted to see, he asked Bri if she had managed to contact Kirby Pence. Mrs. Molen answered with trepidation. She had seen Mike's mood deteriorate as he got none of the answers he was looking for on the phone. "Sorry, Mike, no joy on Kirby, I have been trying for a half hour, nobody's home."
"How many people are left in the building at this point?" Make asked.
Mrs. Molen responded, "I think all the practices are over, so as far as I know it's only me and three janitors, why Mike?"
"Well, until we can get a proper look at the rooms, I'd like to secure the building. Do you think that will be a problem?"
"Telling people that they can go home early is NEVER a problem Mike!"
"I'll also need keys for the building so we can have access when we need it."
"Sure thing," the secretary said as she pulled a key from the drawer. "This will open the main door. Your handsome young partner still has the pass key I gave him," she added with a wink. "That will access all the classrooms. You will also need this. She handed Mike a card with four numbers on it. That's the code for the alarm system. I will set it when I leave."
Mike smiled "Thanks, and Bri, keep trying Kirby Pence's number and also, can you get the night shift janitors up here so I can talk to them before they leave?"
"Can do, Mike."
ooooooooo
Mike heard Mrs. Molen's voice on the PA system as he walked outside and saw Jeannie and Diane sitting on the low block wall to the left of the door. It appeared as if Diane had been crying, but now was sitting staring off into space. Mike took a second and shook off the anger and dread that had collected while he was on the phone. He sat down on the wall next to Diane. Taking her hand, he spoke reassuringly, "Diane, please don't give up on Mona. I know it looks bad, but at this point no news is good news. We haven't quit on her, so don't you, ok." Truthfully, he really didn't have much faith in the words he was saying and while he didn't want to give her false hope, he wasn't ready to give up. Diane was comforted by Mike's gentle touch and calming words. She gave Mike a sad smile and seemed to regroup a little.
"I'll be in at 8 am tomorrow to continue the cataloging, but when can I get back into my room and clean up?" Diane asked.
Mike was a little surprised that Diane wanted to continue on the project in light of what had happened.
"I'll tell you what," Mike answered rubbing his hands together with newfound resolve, "How about if Steve here comes over in the morning and helps you and Jeannie, then when the lab boys are done in your room, maybe he can give you a hand cleaning up, since he is still technically on vacation." Mikes suggestion was two-fold, it would give Diane the help she needed and it would give Steve an excuse to be in the school and keep an eye on the girls.
Steve looked up, at the mention of his name, smiled and nodded in agreement. "Sure, Mike, no problem."
Diane was about to protest, but with a look from Mike, she agreed to go along with him.
Mike got up and walked over to Steve and spoke in a low voice. "Thanks buddy boy, I owe you one."
Steve rolled his eyes, "I think it's more than one at this point!"
"Point, taken," Mike replied, cuffing Steve's neck playfully, "I'm a little concerned that Jeannie and Diane's bags were left unattended in the classroom. How about you make sure they get home safely? I need to see the night shift custodians, then head over to Marin County and talk Kirby Pence into opening his files."
"That's an easy one Mike," Steve grinned, peering at the two ladies sitting on the wall.
Mike looked at Steve's expression and wagged a finger at him, "Be good!" he admonished with a laugh.
"Hey, if nothing else, I'm always a gentleman." Steve replied cheekily. "But seriously, is there anything else I can do, Mike?"
Mike thought about it for a minute, grateful for Steve's considerate offer, "Listen, the lab can't get here till at least tomorrow. How about you come back after everybody clears out and take a look at the rooms." Mike said handing Steve the key and alarm code. "When I get back from Marin County, we can meet up with Inspector Scott and see where we are."
oooooo
Mike walked into the building as Steve, Jeannie and Diane headed for the parking lot. By this point, the night shift janitors were assembled in the main office. They were in a jovial mood, learning they had just been granted a rare shift off. Mike introduced himself to Ron, Len and Bill.
"Can any of you remember working in room A112 on Friday night last?" Mike began. The men looked at one another quizzically, as if trying to think their way back to last week. When no one spoke up, Mike continued. "It was the last night before the students went on holiday, there was a basketball, game…"
Mike left the statement open, hoping one of the men would fill-in the blanks. When no one spoke up, he got suspicious. "Come on men, it's not that long ago, what's up?"
Len looked at the other two custodians, they nodded as he spoke somewhat guiltily. "To tell you the truth, Lt. Stone, we kind of blew off the A hallway that night. We knew there wasn't going to be anyone here after that and we could get to it when we came in the afternoon the day after Chriatmas. After we locked up the main door we, eh, had a little holiday celebration, instead. At the end of our shift, we left out through the back."
Another dead end, Mike though. Before he turned the janitor's loose, he asked them one more question.
"Did you see anybody hanging around A111 or A112 as you were working today?"
"Sorry Lieutenant," Len again spoke for the group, we just got in at noon."
The janitors exited the office, Mike walked around the counter to Bri Molen's desk. She was just hanging up the phone. "Sorry, Mike, still no luck with Kirby." She said anticipating his question. As much as he hated to waste the time, he made his way out to make the drive to Kirby Pence's house.
oooooo
Getting Jeannie and Diane home proved a little more time consuming than Steve had anticipated. Jeannie had driven to school, Diane did not. Wanting to make sure they both arrived safely, he proposed that Diane ride with him, he would follow Jeannie home and then drop Diane. Jeannie started to protest the arrangement, but taking a page out of Mike's playbook, Steve glared at her, successfully he thought. Not wanting to make a fuss in front of Diane, Jeannie conceded the point, but mused to herself, just you wait till I get you alone, Steve Keller!
Diane was slightly surprised by Steve's ride. How can he afford that on a cops' salary? They climbed in the car and left the lot following Jeannie. After he made sure Jeannie was home and locked in safe, he continued on with Diane. She didn't say anything at first, closing her eyes and resting her head on the passenger side window. She was so still Steve almost thought she had dozed off.
"Nice car Steve," Diane stated absently. Her sudden stab at conversation startled Steve.
"Uh, thanks," he said.
After a prolonged silence, she volunteered, "I don't know what I would do without Mona."
Steve lent a sympathetic ear as she proceeded to tell him all about her relationship with friend and mentor. She didn't really know why she was telling him all this, she hardly even knew him, but somehow, it just seemed right. As she was speaking, he could not get over how similar her relationship with Mona was to his own close friendship with Mike. It was like looking at Mike and him in some kind of odd mirror. The thought that he might have to go on without Mike one day made him shudder. Lost in his own thoughts, he was surprised that she had stopped speaking and was staring at him.
"I'm sorry I just dumped that all on you. I feel like if I don't keep talking about her…" she trailed off as they pulled up to her address. She had no idea how well he understood. Steve turned off the car and just stared at her. He didn't know what to say. She looked directly into his green eyes and after an uncomfortable interval, she finally spoke. "I get the feeling you know exactly what I'm talking about."
Steve wanted to explain how he knew, but walked her to her door in silence. She kissed him on the cheek, "Thanks for listening to me babble, some day you are going to have to tell all about it."
Diane unlocked her door and went inside. Steve stood in place, staring at the closed door. At that moment he knew he had to do everything he could to find her friend.
oooooooo
Mike's drive over the Golden Gate to Marin County proved to be another exercise in futility. It wasn't only the traffic which caused the trip to take twice as long as it should have, but his reward upon arrival was and empty driveway and a dark house. What a waste, he thought as he drove back to Bryant Street, he couldn't help but feel frustrated by the lack of progress in finding Mona. It was half past four when he parked the car and headed up to the office. After grabbing a cup of coffee he sat down at his desk and tried to ring Inspector Russell, but had no luck getting hold of him. "I am really batting a thousand today!" he said to no one in particular. He openly wondered how long Rudy would let his involvement in this case continue.
oooooooo
Steve pulled back into the deserted parking lot of Mission High. He grabbed a pen and notebook from the glove box and a flash light out of the trunk and proceeded to the main door, open it, and disabled the alarm. Locking the door behind him he turned on the flashlight and walked past the office toward A111 and A112. If he thought the building was creepy before, it was nothing to what it felt like at present. He opened Mona's classroom door, turned on the light and stood taking in the scene. He could tell that what had once been a tidy room was now basically a disaster area. A bookshelf full of binders was overturned and their contents were shredded and scattered. The drawers to the desk at the front were pulled out haphazardly and their contents had been thoroughly searched and spread. Using his pen, he sifted through the contents, hoping that something might jump out at him. He stood back up and walked around slowly, trying to recreate in his mind how the perp had searched the room, obviously looking for something, and it seemed to him, getting more frantic as time went by. He took out his note book and made a list of the areas of the room he wanted the lab to concentrate on.
Turning the lights off and locking the door, he started to cross the hall to Diane's room, all the while looking around. He felt as if someone or something was watching him. He swept the hall front and back slowly with the flashlight beam. Nothing. He unlocked the door, turned on the light and entered A111. Having seen the mess firsthand already, he went directly over to the desk. He checked out the scratch marks on the lock and saw a screwdriver discarded on the floor. He hoped whomever had used it was kind enough to leave a few fingerprints. He stood up again and looked around the room. He felt more than saw the rage and frustration of the person that had ransacked the room. He supposed that once the suspect couldn't get into the desk, he had simply expressed his desperation with destruction.
Steve walked to the back of the room and check the door to what he took to be a storage closet. He picked up a paper towel from the counter and used it to check the handle. It was locked, but something told him he should have a look around. He tried the key in the lock, it turned easily. As he went in, the door swung closed behind him, hitting his elbow and knocking the flashlight out of his hand, leaving him standing in total darkness. He cursed as he rammed into a crate that was sitting on the floor in front of the door. Standing still, he rubbed his shin as his eyes adjusted to the darkened room. He straighten up, turned and ran his hand over the wall next to the door and luckily found the light switch and turned it on.
It was not a closet, but appears to be a workroom of some sort. He picked up his flashlight and looked around. There were open shelves lining the center of the room with what seemed to be sculptures in various stages of completion. There were about 10 dusty boxes stacked to the left. On the right was a large hexagonal object, clad in chrome, covered with a thick lid. Above it was a large ventilation hood. There seemed to be a scrap of something caught in the lid, he walked over and tried to pull it free, but the heavy lid held it fast. He hoisted the lid open with a grunt, it pivoted on a hinge and caught on the bar that held it in place. The scrap fluttered free and dropped out of sight into the large cavity. Steve looked at the fire brick lining and leaned over as he reached down into what felt like pile of ash to retrieve the curious scrap. Something sharp nicked hand. He stood back up, turned on his flashlight and shown the beam onto the floor of the cavity. A glint of gold caught in the beam as Steve looked on with horror at what was unmistakably human teeth.
