Not much to say, really. Just read and tell me what you think, okay?
*****
Ingrid strode over to the door just in time to catch sight of a slip of paper fluttering under the door. Suspiciously she picked it up between her fingers and unfolded it. Inscribed on the paper was:
GIVE UP SEARCH WHILE YOU STILL CAN. YOU'LL NEVER FIND THE BUMPER STICKERS IN THIS LIFETIME.
"Fillmore, look at this!"
Her partner came to her side immediately. "What's that?" Fillmore questioned.
"It's a note that someone just slid under the door," Ingrid answered. "It looks like they used a stencil to disguise their handwriting."
"But if they just slid it under the door," Fillmore said suddenly, "then that means that they're still close by." He swiftly grasped the doorknob, twisted it and swung the door open.
Someone from the other side of the door yipped as it was flung ajar and the bag he was holding crashed to the ground, coming open and spilling its contents. The two Safety Patrol officers stared as the white-blonde haired kid fell back and began gathering his supplies hurriedly.
"Hey," said Fillmore, "did you just slide this under our door?"
"I…I, uh…" The boy's mind seemed to be racing with excuses as he tried to explain the reason why he had been sneaking the halls right on the other side of their door. "I…what I mean to say is…I gotta go!" And he slung his pack over his shoulder and bolted.
Fillmore sputtered with rage as he watched Smith's retreating back. "Get back here! Ingrid, let's move!" he commanded before chasing after the culprit.
But Ingrid didn't make any attempt to follow him. Instead she stooped down to the ground and picked out a blue plastic stencil from the rubble that were spread across the tiled floors. No matter what that kid said, they now had proof that he was the one who had written the note. And, if her now functioning photographic memory was correct, that was the exact same student as the one in the picture in Jared Smith's files.
*****
Now halfway through the school building, Fillmore, who remained in hot pursuit, noticed that he wasn't being accompanied by his partner. No matter. He knew that the kid was leading him towards a dead end in the Cafetorium, and with that information he whipped his Chatmaster3000 out of his pocket and flipped it on. "Ingrid!" he barked. "Where are you? I need backup, pronto."
"I'm on it, Fillmore," Ingrid replied. "He did write that note. I found the stencil that he used with the rest of the stuff that he dropped, and it is Jared Smith you're chasing. Where are you?"
"He's taking me straight to the Cafetorium. Send as many people as you can to help. Believe me, he's not planning on giving up any time soon!" Fillmore panted with exhaustion as he ducked into the Cafetorium after Smith, who crossed the room quickly and was just about to reach the opposite door when—
Slam! Joseph Anza kicked the door open just as Smith reached for the handle. "End of the line, Jared."
Ingrid came up behind Joseph, flipping her Chatmaster off. "Told you I was on it," she said, smirking at Smith. "You know, we were going to wait until tomorrow for a proper interrogation, but I guess we can fit you in for today on such short notice."
Karen and O'Farrell entered through the same door, each taking hold of one of Jared's arms. "We're going to ask you to come with us, Jack," O'Farrell informed him, making his best attempt to sound tough.
"Uh…it's Jared."
"Aw, whatever."
*****
"Come on, Jared. We know that you were the one who wrote the note, and we know that you are involved with the missing bumper stickers."
Jared trembled in his seat on the other side of the table. The interrogation room was an intimidating environment; he knew that he was going to end up spilling the beans at one point. "I…I wasn't involved! Besides, you don't have any proof that I'm involved with any bumper sticker heist!"
"Must I point out that you delivered a threatening note to the Safety Patrol about the bumper stickers, ran when Fillmore asked you if you did, and now you're here in our interrogation room making lame excuses to try to worm your way out of this mess?" Ingrid inquired irritably.
"Well, besides that…"
"Listen, Jared," Fillmore continued firmly. "There are hundreds of kids out there who aren't getting rewarded for their hard work in school. Tell us where the bumper stickers are, man. Those kids deserve them."
Ingrid snorted, causing Fillmore to shoot a dangerous look in her direction.
"I'm tellin' ya, I'm not involved!" Smith insisted, beginning to sweat heavily. "I didn't do anything to land myself in here, you people are just wasting your time, and I…I want out! Now!"
The two officers watched as the boy leapt from his chair and began running laps around the interrogation room. Ingrid made a move to go after him, but Fillmore held her back. "This has happened too many times before," he informed her. "Just watch. He'll stop when he's ready."
Smith continued to sprint around the table. Then, spotting the large window at the back wall and seeming to see it as a way out, he made a mad dash for it. He came crashing against the window and crumpled to the floor.
Ingrid blinked. "Wow. That was…wow."
"You'll get used to it," Fillmore assured her. He strode over to the window and helped Smith back up. "Just get 'em back on their feet and send 'em to the nurse. Anyway, we're not going to get anything out of him…yet. But he'll talk when he's ready, I can tell you that."
"It's not about the bumper stickers."
Fillmore quickly looked down at Smith. "What did you say?"
"It's not about the bumper stickers," Smith repeated dizzily, seeming only semiconscious. "They want…" But he didn't finish before passing out again.
Ingrid raised an eyebrow. "Looks like someone's trying to lead us in the wrong direction," she concluded.
*****
End of chapter five.
A/N: I don't think that that was the most well written chapter ever. Kind of a lame ending, but oh well. I still have plans for this fic.