Author's Notes: If you're trying to guess who did it, don't read further until you think you are certain. This is the last and final chapter in this story. Look out for my next one, though, which will pick up at the same place this one left off. I haven't picked a title for it yet. I'll add a quick summary as another chapter in this story later. Just be sure it's good.
Thanks to Teazer for submitting the name "Brooke Martin" for the new kid competition. Brooke makes an appearence in this chapter. And those of you still submitting characters, I'll try to work them into my next story. Sorry if I can't do everybody's stuff, but so far it looks promising.
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Fillmore knocked on the door. A middle-aged woman opened it.
"Hello," she said. "Who might you be?"
"Officer Fillmore of the X Middle School safety patrol, 'mam. I need to speak to your son. May I?"
"Of course," said the woman, then she went back into the house. Fillmore reached into his backpack, and pulled out an audio tape recorder that he was carrying with him. He pushed the record button, and returned the tape recorder to his backpack. A few moments later, Chase Kristofer appeared at the front door.
"Why, hello officer," he said. "What do you need?"
"I know who your bully is," Fillmore said.
"Who was it?" Chase asked.
"Nobody."
Chase blinked several times. Then he asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"You set up this whole thing to frame Bruce Storm," Fillmore explained. "You came in, crying and everything; you had us really going. You even skipped handing in assignments to fool us. Then, when you thought we were having too tough of a time getting going, you tried to imitate his handwriting and write yourself a threatening note." Chase Kristofer began to sweat.
"There are just two problems with your story. The first is that you only missed assignments for a week, and you told us a month. And secondly, Bruce Storm only writes in pen; never in the pencil you wrote yourself the note in."
"All right!" Chase exclaimed. "I admit it! I framed Bruce Storm! But you would too, given my circumstances!" Chase stepped out onto the porch.
"Do you know how long and hard I worked to get that award for best creative story? Every day for two years, when I would come home from school, I would sit down and start writing, perfecting, and mastering my story!"
"And your work paid off," said Fillmore. "You wrote a story that won the award."
"It doesn't matter!" Chase yelled. "Who cares about a lousy award? All they give you is a piece of paper with your name on it, and a pat on the back! I wanted fans!" Chase sighed. "But even when I beat his story, Bruce still gets the upper hand in that department. The creative writing fan club wouldn't even analyze mine, because they all worship Bruce Storm.
"It became apparent to me that the only way to get what I want was to get Bruce out of the picture. So, I devised a whole plan to get him detention. Eventually it would move to suspension, and ultimately expulsion from the school. Then, he would fade out of the public eye, and I would take his place as the worshiped author in X Middle School."
"You can't force people to like you, Chase," Fillmore said.
"Maybe so," said Chase. "But, if I've done my research correctly, you're on forced vacation. There's nothing you can do to stop me from trying."
"You're right," said Fillmore. But then, he pulled the tape recorder from his backpack. "But with your confession on tape, I'm sure my friends will find stopping you on their own very easy."
Chase dove for the tape recorder, ripping it from Fillmore's hands. Before Fillmore could even react, Chase had already begun running across his yard. "Stop!" Fillmore yelled.
When Fillmore started chasing him, Chase had allready run across the street. Fillmore tried to pursue him, but a car came, stopping inches away from Fillmore.
"Watch it, kid," the driver said. But Fillmore recovered himself quickly and ran after Chase again. Chase now had a sizable lead.
"So long, officer!" Chase yelled. He began to laugh maniacally, throwing his head back. But, he didn't look where he was going, and ran directly into a stop sign. He fell back, completely unconscious from the blow. This made it easier for Fillmore to catch up to him.
Fillmore pulled out his walkie-talkie. "This is Fillmore," he said into it. "Chase is out cold at the stop sign on Yarrow. Come and get him, Jake and Ingrid."
-
"FILLMORE!" Vallejo yelled. "OFFICE NOW!"
"He must have found out you were on the case," Ingrid said.
"Don't worry," Fillmore assured her. "I didn't do anything that could get me in trouble. He's got nothing on me."
Fillmore walked triumphantly into Vallejo's office. Vallejo was sitting at his desk, his forehead resting on his hand. He rubbed his forehead several times before speaking.
"Fillmore," he said sternly. "It has come to my attention that you were key in solving this case."
"Yeah," said Fillmore. "So?"
"So, why were you on this case, when you were supposed to be on forced vacation?"
"I wasn't on the case, Vallejo," Fillmore said. "I was just doing a normal student's duty to my fellow students."
"Look, you got the job done, and I'm happy for that," Vallejo said. "But Folsom's gonna throw you off the force if ever she hears about this."
"Then don't tell her about it," Fillmore said.
"Exactly," Vallejo said, to Fillmore's surprise. "If anybody, especially Folsom asks, I pulled you back on the force prior to any action. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Fillmore said. He started walking out of the office. "Thanks," he said, but Vallejo didn't respond.
-
Chase sat in the desk he would remain in for two hours for detention. He rested his head upon it, tilting it this way and that, as if to say, "Why, why did I let myself get caught?"
He had originally thought that he'd be the only one attending detention that day, but he was joined by the black haired girl from the creative writing fan club.
"Hi," she said to Chase. "What're you in for?"
"I was caught trying to frame Bruce Storm for bullying," Chase said. "You?"
The girl shrugged. "Somebody copied my test in math and I got the blame. I'm Brooke Martin. What's your name?"
"Chase Kristofer," Chase answered.
"Really?" the girl exclaimed. "I'm a big fan! I loved your story, 'Bullies of the Night!' Pure genius!"
"Yeah?" asked Chase. Brooke echoed, "Yeah."
The room went silent for a few moments, but it wasn't an awkward silence. On both sides, it was a comfortable silence, both enjoying each other's presence.
It was Brooke that broke the silence. "So, detention is two hours for me. You?"
"Same," Chase said.
"You wanna go get a hamburger or something after detention?"
"Anything," Chase said, "for a fan."