Chapter 5
The two detectives paid the bill and headed out for the car.
"Alright Elliot, we don't need another near death situation again so I'm driving." Olivia said throwing their garbage away as they headed for the car. There was no objection from Elliot he slid into the passenger's side of the car and they headed over to Fiona's school.
Both Olivia and Elliot had been to numerous schools in the city and they knew how it was with kids rushing around trying to get to class before the final bell and lockers slamming, kids yelling down the hall, making plans for later that day it was not unusual. This school was different though, it was eerily calm. Yes, there were lockers being shut and kids rushing down the hall, but it was not loud yelling or any of that.
Elliot and Olivia made their way to the principal's office that was the first stop then they would talk to teachers and friends then anyone else who might have seen something. The kids were all very polite nodding hello to the detectives and being helpful by giving directions to the office. When they got there they tapped on the door and Ms. Moshly, the secretary, she was tall and slender with brunette hair and looked younger than both detectives.
She opened the door and greeted the detectives.
"No need to introduce yourselves." She said, "You are detectives Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson. We've been waiting for you. Captain Cragen had told us you'd be here. We figured you'd be here after the lunch hour." Ms. Moshly offered the detectives two seats near the principal's door.
"Sorry, we wanted to get here as soon as possible. And with traffic being so terrible, we thought wed come a little early. Not to mention we had some, well let's say issues on the way over." Olivia said nodding her head toward Elliot who was mesmerized by all the awards and pictures hanging on the wall.
"No need to apologize, we are happy you were able to come. As always we will be as cooperative as possible during the investigation. Now if you will excuse me I have some errands to run, Mr. O' Connell will be right with you." Ms. Moshly said as she gathered some papers and her purse.
"If you need to make another appointment later let me know when I return and we can set something up." She said halfway out the door. The suddenly turning around quickly, as if she had forgotten something Ms. Moshly said, "It was a pleasure meeting the both of you!" she smiled and continued out the door.
"Is it just me or are people in this school just a little on the strange side?" Olivia asked joining Elliot, who was still looking at the hangings on the wall.
"I don't know Liv, maybe after dealing with druggies and jerk-offs all the time it will be a pleasant change of things." Elliot said smiling at on the pictures, it was the annual carnival they had in the gymnasium. Elliot let out a chuckle and the door to the principal's opened. Joseph O'Connell was a husky man of about six feet and not necessarily chubby, but broad. He was a little older than Elliot and had salt and pepper hair with a matching mustache. He stepped out of the office, and took a standing behind Elliot who was oblivious to Mr. O'Connell's presence.
"I'm glad you are amused at the pictures in here, that's what they are there for, entertainment." Mr. O'Connell said in his gruff voice. Elliot had jumped nearly out of his skin when he realized that the principal had been standing behind him.
"I'm sorry I didn't realize you were standing there." Said a sheepish Elliot.
"No need to apologize, I'm the one who should be saying "Sorry", I've kept you detectives waiting for far too long. Please step into my office and we can discuss the situation." Olivia went in first followed by Mr. O'Connell then Elliot came in shutting the door behind him.
"Mr. O'Connell, as you know I am Olivia Benson and this is my partner, Elliot Stabler. You also know we are with the Special Victims Unit." Olivia said flashing her badge at the principal who had motioned for the two detectives to sit down.
"Oh, please you may call me Joe when we're in here. I never liked adults calling me Mister." He had said turning in his chair to open the blinds a bit.
"Okay, Joe, let's get started then, shall we?" Elliot said taking a seat next to Olivia.
"I suppose you would like to know anything and everything I know about Aidan and Fiona correct?" Joe said with a small grin. "Well, unfortunately for you they are great kids, never been sent to the office except for schedule changes or a congratulation on winning an award. I'm pretty lucky to have those two in the school. They always seem to be polite and nice to everyone, even though the other kids are not the nicest to them."
"What do you mean by that?" Olivia asked as she looked over Elliot's way. He had written almost everything Joe had said.
"Well Detective Benson, as you may or may not know Aidan and Fiona's mother passed away a few months ago and they had to move school districts. They were able to stay with their aunt for the duration of the funeral, but then the step-father chose to take them back. He bought a new house, the works." Joe explained flipping through some files on his desk.
"Yes we knew that, any idea why the step-father did this?" Olivia questioned jotting some notes down.
"Well, as far as I can tell, he felt so lost in the old house without his wife he needed a change. Although I can tell you it was a pretty bad move for the kids' sake, after going through a trauma and all." Joe answered.
"Well, I guess we better get in touch with the two. Is there any way that you could tell us where they might be, and if they would be willing to talk to us?" Elliot asked making a few last notes.
"I can't for sure, but if you speak with Ms. Moshly, I am sure she would be glad to help you." Joe answered standing up from the desk and shaking both the detectives' hands.
"Thank you for your cooperation, we'll be in touch." Olivia said as she opened the door and let Elliot out and she followed.
Ms. Moshly had returned from her errands and was sitting at her desk answering the phones and typing viciously on her computer. She looked up and noticed that the detectives had exited the office. She motioned for the detectives to come over to her desk.
"Yes, Mrs. Baldwin I will have a copy of James' schedule and send home his homework assignment home with his sister. Yes, no problem, call me if there are any more problems. You have a good day too!" Ms. Moshly hung up the telephone and finished up on her computer.
"Tis the season of the colds, poor Jimmy Baldwin, missed three days this week. How may I help you detectives?" Ms. Moshly questioned standing to go to the printer.
"We were wondering whether or not you could tell us where the twins are right now, and if we could pull them out of class to speak to them." Asked Olivia.
"Sure, they should both be in lunch about now, and I'm sure they wouldn't' mind missing the rest and maybe some of let's see looks like physical education." Ms. Moshly answered looking at her computer screen.
"Could you tell us how to get to the cafeteria?" Elliot asked looking out into the hall.
"Sure can, step outside the office take a right. Continue down the corridor and when you reach then end take a left then the third door on the right will be a set of double door head through those and poof you are in the cafeteria. The twins usually sit by themselves in the back corner, can't miss them, they look out of place." Ms. Moshly explained motioning with her hands.
"Thank you very much Ms. Moshly. If we need anything else we'll be in touch, have a good day" Elliot said as he and Olivia exited the office.