If there was one thing most people couldn't help but hate it was Monday mornings. And this one couldn't help but be a particularly foul one for all members of all of Matt Praeger's fellow colleges including him. It wasn't the unseasonably cold weather or the fact that their last two cases had turned out to be a hoax, and the one before that having had a natural explanation. It was in fact an accumulation of compounding facts and occurrences that had lead to his current cynical mood (not that he wasn't normally so, but today he was just more so).
Heading toward the mobile lab he couldn't help but wonder if this case would be similar to previous ones. This wasn't a case of a possible haunting, paranormal activity or even a person displaying possible psychic powers. For all intents and purposes he and his team were just being called in to take a look at a house and make sure that it was safe and free of lei lines, high electromagnetic readings and anything else of that nature before a women decided to buy it.
This wasn't the typical sort of thing that the Office of Scientific Investigations and Research did, but when you get a specific order from Frank Elsinger, Director of Operations to do so you do it. Of course if you're Matt you check out why first because of your distaste and distrust for the man, and that's just what he did. It turned out that the owner of the house, Mrs Emily Bolton had donated ten thousand every year since her husband had died in 1988. Suddenly it all made sense to him.
"Good morning my fellow minions of the man." Matt said to everyone else in the mobile lab as he headed to his locker. "Has anyone had time to make some nectar of the gods?" He then questioned as he put his bag away. "I've had one of those weekends and need it big, strong and black."
"Like Curtis?" Lindsay questioned as she came up behind him. Curtis was of course Curtis Rollands, a mutual friend of both Lindsay and Matt's. Rollands was of Case Manager like Matt, though he worked on a different team to theirs.
"Oh ha ha, very funny." Matt deadpanned. "Now be a good girl and earn brownie points by getting me a coffee." He said with a partial smirk. "Den mother had a very long weekend and needs to stay awake."
"Oh that's right, Dana stayed at your house this weekend." Lindsay said realising the cause for his current dishevelment. Dana was Matt's eldest and only child, and a freshman at University. "It couldn't have been that bad having her there could it?" She questioned as she moved over to the counter to get him the coffee that he seemed to so greatly need and deserve.
"Lets see." He said with one of his charming smirks. "Between the loud music, her going through my books..."
Lindsay couldn't help but in at his comment. "You have books?" She questioned almost having to bite her lip not to laugh.
"Yes I have books." He stated. "What do you think I am? Some kind of unlearned simpleton who didn't graduate highschool... why am I even justifying myself? That isn't the point. The point is that after the loud music, her going through my books, the continual phone calls and questions, there was very uncomfortable father daughter talks we had over meals and her wanting to know about my relationships. She's my daughter, I can't talk to her about my non existent love life. It's hard enough hearing about her and her new boyfriend Damien and how loving and sincere he is. He sounds slimy, like some demon. Damien the demon, maybe we should be investigating him instead."
"Alright, I get the point." Lindsay said butting in when she had the slightest chance. "I didn't ask for a minute to minute of what happened. Now start drinking this before you start talking again." She said holding out the large cup of coffee for him to drink. He just stood there, staring at her about to say something but instead just took the glass in his hand before heading through the glass slide doors into the next room.
There he simply took a seat and began to drink his coffee in semi peace. Semi as soon he was joined by another fellow colleague Peter Axon. Matt and Peter had had their problems in the past, but now things seemed to be good between the duo had been going better over recent months.
"Morning all." Peter said as he came and took a seat across from Matt. He seemed in the same mood as Matt, shown by him slamming his bag on the table before taking off his jacket. He eased gently into the seat very carefully to the bemusement of both Lindsay and Matt. "What are you two smiling at?"
This only made them smirk to each other even more. "We're not smiling... are we Matt?" Lindsay commented. Matt just shook his head mouthing the words no. "What's with you anyway? You look like you've been riding a horse."
"You would to if you crashed your bike." He said leaning forward sighing. "My bike is totalled, I'm fine but every part of my body is pain." He couldn't help but cringe as he leant back in his seat. "Maybe Anton can give me something for it."
"Sorry there Pete, but Anton isn't coming." Matt said almost wanting to laugh but knowing it wasn't the right time to do so. "Since this is just a 'you do as I say' Elsinger case, and we're just looking over some old house before some rich person moves in there isn't much need for him. But he is on call, so if we need him for any reason he's just a call away."
"Looks like you're going to have to suffer then." Lindsay said as she went and took a seat next to him. "I got all the information on the house we'll need. I have the original land deeds, information for previous owners going back over 100 years, original blue prints and the alterations made over the years." Being the Senior Data Annalist Lindsay was always able to get the information needed easily.
"I still don't get why we're here." Peter admitted. "Looking over a house and property before some old lady buys it isn't exactly premise for us to be called in."
"Well apparently when an old lady donates 10K every year for an extended period of time we get to do Franks favours." Matt said with obvious contempt for the man. "The women has been donating since her husbands death in 1988."
"Wow, that long?" Lindsay couldn't help but comment. "It does explain why she can afford this house though. It's 8 acres including stables, guesthouse not to mention the main house, which has two double bedrooms with ensuits, ten rooms in total, library, media room, three car garage, two pools one heated, one not and a hot tub."
"How lovely, sounds like my holiday home in the Hampton's." Matt mused with a smirk. "With that sort of money why can't she hire someone herself to look over the place? We have better things to do then to be at the beckoning call of an old spinster."
"That's good to hear Matthew, but you will be helping Mrs Bolton." Came a deep voice from behind them. "Now you are all more then welcome to stay in the guest wing of the house as we are thirty minutes from the nearest town. I also have some one coming to make sure Mrs Bolton keeps out of your way while working."
"How thoughtful Frank." Matt replied, his sarcasm obvious. "So who is it that you roped into doing your dirty work? No wait... let me guess, you called in a favour"
"Why Matthew, your obvious cynicism aside I did call in a favour. She works periodically with Curtis and his team when the need arises." Frank said as he folded his arms as a sign of showing his authority in the situation. "Her name is Olivia Archer. She's young but smart and unfortunately has a similar personality to yours." He said giving Matthew a look.
"Darn, and just when I thought I'd gotten rid of any duplicates or doppelgangers." Matt retorted.
"Olivia will be staying the guest house while Mrs Bolton will be staying in town. She'll come in during the days or if needed but as I said Olivia will be keeping her out of your way." He said with a smile.
"Ahhh Frank, you could have told us this on the phone." Lindsay said knowing that both Peter and Matt were probably wondering the same thing. "So is there any specific reason why you came all the way out here to tell us this in person?"
"No… No reason in particular." He shook his head. After fiddling with his pocket for a moment he pulled out a letter and placed it on the table. "If you could give this to Olivia please." He slid the letter over to Matt who just looked at it, picking it up in his hands raising his eyebrows in disbelief.
"Just don't be getting into trouble and be thorough. Also since this is just a 'favour for a friend' as Matthew you so lovingly put it it'll just be the three of you working here. No need for a full team right? But you can feel free to use Olivia as needed. Just make sure you notify me or Anton if you do." He said with a smile to them.
"Anton? Why Anton?" Matt asked, his chair swinging to face Frank whom had his back to the group due to his intention to depart.
Frank turned around and just half glared at Matt. "Because I said so." He stated before turning around to leave. He didn't leave though but instead adjusted his jacket. "Questions are a good things to ask. But not to me. Just do as you're told." His voice suddenly seemed colder then usual and the trio couldn't help but look at each other as he left.