Sorry, I was all out of sorts with the move arrangements and couldn't get focused. Feeling better now so let's get this mystery on!
I just realized that in my out of sortness that I do not own Bones. And here I bet you thought I could! Just plasma.
2.
"Dean Anthony?" Booth asked as he stepped in the administrator's office.
"Agent Booth." Dean Anthony said welcoming him but in a very reserved manner. Booth could tell that the man was welcoming him in but he didn't want to. Booth's suspicions were raised. "What can I do for you Agent Booth?"
"You do know of the disappearances of three of your students correct?" Booth asked surprised about his nonchalant manner.
"Yes, it's sad about Anna Harding but I don't see what it has to do with any others." He said very even and distant.
"There do appear to be connection. Tell me Mr. Anthony, do you feel the student body here feels they can get help if it's needed?" Booth asked.
"It's Dr. Antony and of course, we have tutor programs and…"
"I mean, if one of the students were in trouble, guidance counselors…"
"We don't employ guidance counselors here Mr. Booth." Dr. Anthony said and Booth noticed the man's jab by dropping his title in return. Booth decided to let it go and cream this guy on something later.
"Where do students go if one needed help?"
"We are an all-girls Catholic school, the girls are expected to be ladies at all times. If they have a problem they can speak to their priest or their parents."
Booth tried not to be shocked by the answer. He was pretty sure most teenage girls did not go to their priest for a personal issue any more than she would her father.
"Now if there is anything else agent…" Anthony said standing to lead Booth out.
"I'd like to talk to some of the students. Ones that would know the missing girls." Booth said.
"Agent, the students are trying to learn.."
"I can bring a whole team of agents and some search warrants in if you prefer."
Dean Anthony sighed. "Fine agent, just please be discreet."
Booth walked to the secretary who waited for the Dean to shut the door before she helped Booth. Booth noticed.
"I can save you some time, what do you need to know about the girls." The secretary offered. Booth was curious what she would say against what other students might say. He wanted to gauge how much the administration might bury the issue.
"Sure, what can you tell me about them?"
"Phillips, Harding and Andrews, all very mean girls." The elderly secretary explained. She had an obvious distaste for them.
"Really, how do you mean?"
"They would tease other girls mercilessly, ones that they didn't deem to be stylish or up to their standards. They did some mean things. That Harding girl, she told one girl repeatedly how ugly she was, she started wearing makeup. Harding emptied a tube of superglue in her mascara when she wasn't looking. Andrews, she stole a girl's clothes from the locker room and left a note that if she was going to wear poor people's brands she was better with none. She threatened all the other girls that if they went in and helped her they'd be next. Poor girl had to run out of there past everyone naked."
"Why doesn't administration stop them?" Booth asked.
"Harding's farther is a lawyer, the school's lawyer. Andrew's dad is a contractor. This is a very old building Agent Booth, he's doing all the work at cost. No one stops it." She said realizing she was in on that "they" situation though it was obvious she felt powerless about it.
"And no one breaks these girls apart?" Booth asked.
"What do you mean? They've not a gang Agent Booth. I don't even think they know each other."
Booth was surprised at that and decided to go and interview some other students. "Thank you." Booth added while walking away.
He soon found the same stories when he interviewed a handful of other girls. They either emitted a vibe of admiration of the behavior of the girls or fear of them. One surprising fact became clear to him, they didn't know each other. Apparently the bad girl behavior was a sort of competition at the school. They didn't run in teams or gangs, they tried to one up the other. It was either join in or be the one at the receiving end.
"So these four were the worst?" Booth asked one girl who agreed. "Molly Edwards, Melissa Phillips, Anna Harding and Laurie Andrews."
"Molly Edwards?" The girl asked. "Who's that?"
Booth considered the fact that she had left some time ago, this girl may not have remembered her.
"I assumed you meant Liz Sanders. She's one of the worst too." The girl said before walking away as class was starting.
"You're asking about Molly Edwards?" A girl asked stopping Booth. Booth was jotting down the name "Liz Sanders" as she spoke and just now looked up to see her. She was a plain sort of girl who looked like she was trying very hard to fit in. Booth instantly felt for her as he realized she was one that these girls probably focused to pick on.
"Yes, did you know Molly Edwards?"
"Yeah, I did. She wasn't one of the mean girls. She got picked on though, a lot." The girl said but the classroom door swung open.
"Class! Now!" The teacher shouted and she was soon ushered in. Booth got the feeling that the teacher did not want the girl talking to him.
With no one left to interview Booth headed towards the car. He out the front door when he heard bells ring overhead. He turned to see the tall tower when a detail of the case came back to mind.
Booth went back in the door and slipped up the tower steps quietly. He preferred not to explain what he was doing to the people who did nothing about much of anything.
Booth was no stranger to old bells in Catholic churches. He knew they were swung by large old ropes. Old ropes like the fibers that Hodgins found. He located the end of one rope and removed a pocket knife to cut a section off and put it in a plastic bag he had in his pocket. Assuming how this place operated, he wouldn't be surprised if the rope was most literally, tied to this place.