Act 2: No Can Spray

Edward Nygma was surprised when he was pulled out of his class and brought straight to the Safety Patrol interrogation room. While Vallejo and Principal Folsom were standing behind the one-way mirror, Fillmore and Ingrid sat across the table from the new guy.

"Hello, Edward. I'm Cornelius Fillmore. This is my partner, Ingrid Third."

"Would you mind telling me what this is all about now?" Edward asked.

"It's this." Fillmore said pulling out a square photograph. "This was taken from the side of the school wall." He showed the green painted words taken in the picture. "KFDJX TXP EBOB. We broke the code. It turns out that it's a Caesar cipher. Each letter in the secret message is three letters behind what it actually…"

"I know what a Caesar cipher is, badge." Edward interrupted.

"Then you must also know what it translates to." Fillmore said. "It reads 'Nigma was here'. Anything to say about that?"

Edward stayed silent for a moment before giving a disappointed sigh. "Don't tell me you're actually falling for this."

"Excuse me?" Fillmore asked.

"I didn't write this. Someone else did."

"And do you have anything to prove that this isn't you?" Ingrid asked.

"How about common sense?" Edward asked. "The Caesar Cipher is one of the most basic codes in the world. Anyone can do that. Not to mention the fact that it makes no sense for me to write down my own name on a crime scene, if you can even call it my name."

"What do you mean?" Ingrid asked.

"They spelled my name wrong. My surname is spelled N-Y-G-M-A. It's what makes it more unique. But this clown just spelled it N-I-G-M-A. But there's one more thing about this crime that can't be traced to me."

"And that is…" Fillmore asked.

"What's the point?" Edward asked. "Everything I do results in people learning something. That's the point of riddles. But there's nothing to learn from this."

"So what are you saying?" Ingrid asked.

Edward smiled before replying. "I hold memories, but none of my own. Whatever's on my inside is what is shown. If I'm different, it's because you changed me. I feel like a decoration, here for you to arrange me. What am I?"

"…A frame." Ingrid answered after a moment of thinking. "Like a picture frame. You're saying someone set you up?"

Edward looked at Ingrid with surprise followed by an impressed smile. "Well, so there is an intelligent mind at this school after all. And to answer your question, yes. Someone is obviously doing this at my expense. The real question now is why?"

"Well, you didn't exactly make yourself to be likeable at the welcoming ceremony." Fillmore said. "You basically called the entire school a bunch of idiots."

Edward shrugged. "I'm not apologizing for that. I'm just calling them as I see them."

"Look, Ed," Ingrid said, "Believe it or not, I've been where you are now. I hated my welcome too, told everyone this school stinks, and got framed for a crime not long after."

"Is there a point?" Edward asked.

"The point is, I thought it was all over for me, but then, with the right help, I managed to have my name cleared. Of course, the real crook got away with it, but I digress."

"Well, Ed," Fillmore said, "If you say that someone's trying to frame you, then I'll let you have a chance to defend yourself."

"Good." Edward said. "So I can go."

"Not exactly." Fillmore said. "Common sense of not, you're still a suspect, so you'll be under probation by me and my partner."

Edward frowned. "Oh, goodie."

After leaving the interrogation room, Fillmore, Ingrid, and Edward were met up with most of the Safety Patrol along with Principal Folsom.

"You kids actually believe that this smart-alek didn't vandalize the school wall?" the principal said.

"He's still a suspect," Fillmore said, "But it still doesn't make sense for Ed to be guilty. So for now, he's innocent."

"Well, I'm not convinced." Folsom said. "After all, this only happened after Mr. Nashton was enrolled into this school."

"Because someone has it out for me. Also, I told you, I prefer Nygma."

"That reminds me. Why do you want to be called that?" Vallejo asked. "What does that even mean?"

Edward groaned. "You mean you haven't figured it out? Edward Nygma? E. Nigma? Enigma, which is something puzzling?"

"Okay, Ed. That's enough." Ingrid said. "We're trying to prove your innocence, and your attitude isn't helping."

"You don't have to prove anything!" shouted a voice from the door. Everyone turned to see a certain student walk in, one that made Fillmore and Ingrid's stomachs turn.

"Parnassus." Fillmore whispered.

"What are you doing here?" Vallejo asked. "You retired from the force?"

"Yes, but I'm still a concerned student." Parnassus said. "That, and Daisy Grant is a friend of mine. When she told me about how she found that message on the wall, I thought I could help her by helping bring the criminal to justice. Well, Mr. Edward, have you anything to say for yourself?"

"Yeah. I'm innocent. You numbskulls have nothing on me."

"Stop insulting us." Fillmore said. "You're not making it better."

"There's still one thing that can tie you to the crime." Parnassus said. "The green spray can used to write the message. I say we check his locker."

Fillmore and Ingrid stared at him with suspicion

Folsom lead the kids to Ed's locker, which was right next to an open window. Vallejo, Fillmore, Ingrid, Montoya, and Parnassus were right behind the suspect. Ingrid looked and saw that a ripped piece of tape was resting over the crack of his locker door.

"All right, Mr. 'Nygma'. Open the door and we'll see if you're innocent or not." Folsom said.

Ed shrugged. "Fine by me. Just give me a minute." As he started working on his locker, Fillmore and Ingrid confronted their archenemy.

"Awfully convenient that you'd suggest we look his locker." Fillmore said.

"Are you trying to say something, Cornelius?" Parnassus asked.

"How do we know you didn't set this up?" Ingrid asked. "You could be trying to pin the crime on Ed just like you tried to frame me."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Parnassus said. "I happen to have an alibi. I spent early the whole morning going over some ideas I had for the school with Principal Folsom. Ask her yourself if

you have to. But that aside, it's impossible for me to frame somebody because of one question. How could I possibly plant the spray can in the locker? I mean, that is what you're going for, is it?"

"Well, once we find that spray can, we're going to have another reason to go after you." Ingrid warned. "You won't…"

The door opened and everyone looked. Much to everyone's surprise, there was nothing there by a bunch of books. Even Parnassus was surprised seeing that.

"Hold on. Where's the spray can?" Parnassus asked.

"I don't have it because I didn't vandalize the school." Edward said.

Parnassus looked as if he was at a loss for words. After a brief moment, he regained his composure and cleared his throat. "Apologies. It seems as if I have made a mistake."

"Well, I don't have time for any more mistakes." Folsom said. "Vallejo, I want a conclusion to this case soon. If not, then your Safety Patrol station will be reduced to storage space."

"Understood, ma'am." Vallejo said. "All right, Ed. Since we have no grounds to hold you, you're free to go. But we're still keeping an eye on you."

"Whatever you say." Edward said before walking away.

Fillmore and Ingrid went for a walk down the hallways. They seemed to have a lot on their minds.

"Did you notice that?" Fillmore asked. "Something seems to have changed for Parnassus."

"You know me, Fillmore. I never forget." Ingrid said. "Parnassus seemed to be in control of the case, but when we didn't find the spray can in Edward's locker, he seems to have lost his composure. What does that mean?"

"I think there's something about this case that even Parnassus doesn't know." Fillmore said.

"Do you really think he's responsible?" Ingrid asked. "He does have an alibi."

"He is a genius." Fillmore reminded. "I wouldn't be surprised if he planned something ahead, but something didn't go right."

"Hey. You two." Cried a voice from behind the pair. They turned to see Renee Montoya catching up with them.

"Montoya. Is something up?"

"Nothing. I'm just trying to understand something. Sorry. This may be the new girl in me talking, but I couldn't help but notice that you two seemed to have some animosity for Brad Parnassus. Didn't Vallejo say he used to work at the Safety Patrol?"

"He did, until Ingrid and I caught on to how corrupt he really is." Fillmore said. "You might as well know at this point. During Ingrid's first day here at school, Parnassus released a stink bomb and framed Ingrid for it."

"Why?"

"He had it out for me just because he was threatened by me." Ingrid answered. "He didn't like how smart I was and wanted to be the smartest kid in school. So he tried to get me expelled. Thankfully, Fillmore gave me the benefit of the doubt and helped clear my name."

"But Parnassus is still walking." Montoya said.

"Yeah. We were about to bust him, but he convinced his lackey to take the fall for him. And I didn't have any more evidence to convince Folsom that Parnassus was the mastermind."

"That's low." Montoya said. "I can see why you guys dislike him. So you think that Parnassus is somehow involved in this?"

"Not sure." Fillmore said. "I mean, this does seem like something he'd do, but there seems to be something about this case that even he doesn't know about."

"Like the spray paint?" Ingrid asked. "Parnassus was convinced it was in Ed's locker. But it's not."

"So if it's not there, then where is it?" Fillmore asked.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!

The loud, ringing alarms echoed across the school. The Safety Patrol officers covered their ears trying to block out the sudden noise.

"WHAT IS THIS?!" Montoya asked.

"IT'S THE FIRE ALARM!" Fillmore yelled. "GO NOW!"

Every student and teacher proceeded with their fire alarm procedure and exited the school in an orderly fashion. Everyone was nervous trying to understand what was going on. When the loud alarm ended, Principal Folsom then approached the students with her vice principal behind her.

"Attention, students. Vice Principal Raycliff just informed me that this incident was a false alarm. There's no fire anywhere on school grounds. I don't know who it was that pulled the alarm, but I assure you, when I do find out, they'll be lucky if they end up working in the fast food business!"

Fillmore and Ingrid looked at each other sharing looks of confusion and suspicion.

"That was nuts." Vallejo said as he lead his fellow officers back to the station. "But let's just get back to work."

"Something doesn't add up." Fillmore said. "I can't help but feel that the false alarm was deliberate."

"Why?" Ingrid asked. "Why would anyone bother to get us out of the school?"

Her question was answered when Vallejo opened the door to the Safety Patrol station. Everyone gasped when there was something very visible hanging in the middle of the room. They stepped closer to get a good look at the black sheet hanging by the ceiling. The front of the sheet had a sentence on it in green paint.

"I am inside you, but I was never eaten. I cannot stand on my own, but I will last longer than you. What am I?"

"Another riddle?" Vallejo asked. "Geez, what's going on here?"

Fillmore took a step closer to the sheet and noticed something. There was a piece of tape stuck underneath the written riddle. When he peeled it off, a key fell out right at his feet. He picked it up and took a look at it.

"Disco."

"Fillmore?" Ingrid asked.

"The answer to the riddle. It's a skeleton." Fillmore then held up what he found. "This is a skeleton key."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Vallejo asked.

"Chief. There's another one." Montoya said as she circled around the black sheet. Everyone followed the new girl and saw another riddle written in green paint.

"In order to end this case just right, we can discuss when you find me at first light. To catch the vandal, Fillmore and Third, find the one who said the first word. But if you want the mastermind as well, look at the place where the Muses dwell."

"Now this makes even less sense than the other one." Vallejo said. "Principal Folsom is going to flip when she sees this."

"We'll get this done before anything else." Fillmore said. "This message is meant for me and Ingrid. We must be able to figure this out."

"You better. I gotta report this before this is all over the school." Vallejo said. "I'm putting you two in charge of this incident. The rest of you, go do your jobs." With that, he left the office leaving everyone alone.

"This is beyond confusing." Ingrid said. "What does a skeleton key and this riddle have to do with

anything?"

"Let's figure out this riddle first." Fillmore said. "'In order to end this case just right, we can discuss when you find me at first light'. Let's start with that."

"This guy wants to meet us at sunrise?" Ingrid asked.

"No. Can't be that simple. Riddles never are." Fillmore said. "First light… First light… Hold on. Ingrid, what's another word for 'first light'."

"Well, there's daybreak, glow, dawn…" Ingrid stopped herself when something crossed her mind. "Hold on. I'm remembering something. Yes… Principal Folsom! Her first name is Dawn!"

"Then that can only mean…"

Fillmore and Ingrid wasted no time rushing across the school. The two of them stopped when they made it to the front door of the principal's office. They entered the room and found someone sitting in the principal's chair, but it wasn't Folsom.

It was Edward Nygma.

"Wow. You two are actually smarter than I thought. Kudos."