Chapter two
Mulder and Scully parked in front of Leafmore High. It was a little after three pm and school had just let out. Scully and Mulder were meeting with Herbert Friedman.
Herbert had said that he would meet them in the entrance hall's main office.
Mulder had found it odd that Herbert Friedman wanted to meet there instead of in his office.
They entered the school and headed to the main office that was just to their left. They entered and were told by one of the office workers to take a seat and wait.
There were a few students in the office. They looked at Mulder and Scully curiously.
"I find it strange that Friedman wants to meet here," Mulder said in a low voice so only Scully could hear him.
She gave him an exasperated look, "I'm just glad that he wants to meet us,"
"Me too, but I think its odd that he doesn't want to meet in his office," Mulder said, "I think he doesn't want us to see anymore of the school then we have to," Mulder said.
"Concoct your paranoid theories after wetalk with him, okay?" Scully implored.
Mulder nodded, and looked around the office. There was only one office worker. She was filing, obviously trying to ignore them.
"Ah, Agents Mulder and Scully," Herbert Friedman smiled, as he entered the office, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Mulder and Scully stood.
"Mr. Friedman," Mulder greeted politely.
"Oh sit, so I hear you want to…investigate my school," he said as he stood in front of them.
"Well, yes, it's the last place that hasn't been looked into and the last place that Kenny Matthews was last known to be," Scully said, "And I would think you would want to find Kenny Matthews as much as anyone."
"Oh, yes, tragic, and I know you are here because of the claims of Miss Shannon, his sister," Friedman said.
"Well, yes, I'm sure you know what she has said" Mulder said.
"Yes, these monsters she talks about, it's just a way for her to place blame, so she has picked this school," Friedman said.
"That may be true, but it would at least lay away her fears if we just looked around," Scully said.
"Yes, well, I still believe that Mr. Matthews simply just ran away," Friedman said honestly.
"And what makes you say that?" Mulder asked curiously.
"Well, he was a great student, but his home life wasn't, I spoke with him many times, he just wasn't happy, he spent most of his time at school and with his friends, I believe that he just saw that it was time to leave, he did just turn eighteen," Friedman said.
"It's a possibility, but can you say the same about the other twenty-five students that have gone missing?" Mulder questioned.
Friedman scowled, but kept his cool, "Well, I can not say, I do not know all about my students, some just don't speak to anyone and then they take matters into their own hands," he said.
"True, but still we would like to take a look around," Scully said, and for effect handed Herbert the warrant that Skinner had got for her that morning.
Herbert looked at it darkly, but smiled politely, "Well, anything I can do to help the F.B.I.,"
"Thanks for the cooperation," Mulder smiled the same.
"Well, if you could do me just one favor, please do this when my student's aren't around, I don't want them frightened," Friedman said in a near like fatherly manner.
"I think it's possible, when can we conduct our search?" Mulder asked.
"Well, most students stay until about five-thirty, I close the school at six, so how about six this evening, I can tell the janitor Vick Garrison to let you in, and you can have free run of the place without being hindered or disturbed," he promised.
"All right, that would be fine, thank you, Mr. Friedman," Scully said.
All three stood and shook hands. As they left Scully turned toward Friedman.
"I wouldn't try to override the warrant, it might look bad, and bring in more trouble then you really want," Scully said simply.
Friedman smiled tightly, "I wouldn't think of it Miss Scully,"
They walked out of his office. Mulder only looked at Scully surprised. She just smiled lightly at him.
"Just making sure," Scully said.
"Good thinking," Mulder said and guided her out to their car.
X x X
It was still light when Scully and Mulder drove up to the school again at ten to six. Light was still running on summer time. It wouldn't get dark until eight, latest nine pm.
"This school does look a bit creepy, with all the students gone," Mulder said leading Scully back up to the front doors.
"Yes, but then I always thought schools looked creepy without students; unnatural," Scully said uneasily.
Mulder tried the door. It was locked. He knocked on the door and waited. He peered through the window.
"Think he conveniently forgot?" Scully asked.
"Well, if he did, I can shoot out the knobs, we do have a warrant," Mulder said examining the door.
"Unnecessary force, Mulder, how would you explain that to Skinner," Scully said idly.
"Unnecessary force, but then you know my definitions run differently then the worlds," he said and banged harder on the door.
She smiled, and looked through the window again, "Yeah, I know; oh, here he comes,"
A tall man made his way to them. He unlocked the door and let them in.
"Sorry, I was on the other side of the school when I realized what time it was," he said.
"It's fine," Scully said.
"Well, I'm here until dawn, and I was instructed to give you these, you are allowed into all the rooms, or wherever you need to be," Vick said and handed Mulder a huge ring with numerous key's.
"Oh, thanks," Mulder said surprised.
"All right, well have a good night, if you need me…well I'll be around," Vick said and went back to work.
Mulder and Scully stared at the keys.
"Guess you really scared him," Mulder said.
"Maybe, or he just wanted to finally be helpful," Scully suggested.
"I was almost afraid, luckily the keys are labeled, otherwise we would spend all night trying to find one key for one door," Mulder said examining the keys.
"Yeah, well, lucky us, creepy school, and many rooms to search through, for what exactly?" Scully said a bit confused.
"Evidence, maybe we can find those monsters," Mulder said.
Scully looked nervous, "We are looking for a boy, Mulder,"
"Oh, come on Scully, I thought you didn't believe," he teased lightly seeing her unease.
"I don't," she said firmly, "But why do we need all the keys, why do we have to look everywhere, I'm sure someone would have noticed a body somewhere,"
"Well, we have all night, and a big school, let's just see what we find," Mulder said, "So, shall we get started?" Mulder said pocketing the keys.
"Yeah, remember Mulder we're searching for a boy, not monsters." she repeated.
"Still no fun Scully," he said and walked a little further into the main hall.
Scully gave him a faint smile and followed him.