Rating: Towards end will be heavy PG-13
Spoilers: Up through Victory through Humanity
Summary: Jack and the team search for a missing 21 year old.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters nor the show. A/N: I am trying my hardest to make this like a real case. Melburne University is completely fictional but could be compared to Columbia or a school of such value. This story will be very dark and will completely trespass into dangerous character development territory. This goes out to the Maple St. Crew. Enjoy!
It was quiet in the office as the team waited for the inevitable case that would consume the next few days of their existence. Viv and Martin occasionally passed a file back and forth, Danny got up frequently to walk around the office and Sam worked on an unsolved case that she saved for her spare time. Rarely were they ever free, most of the time cases overlapped or got passed along to other departments if left unsolved. When the team got the chance to relax, they normally caught up on reports and unfinished business.
Every time they saw someone approach their cluster of desks, an anxious sensation in the pit of their stomachs produced an impatience to learn of their new task. In an entire day, they'd received not one call, fax or visit. Martin walked by Jack's office every so often to see if Jack was holding out on them, the wait creating a dreadful suspense.
Danny sat at his desk, nervously tapping his pencil, staring at the numerous patches and photos tacked to the board on his desk. He immediately blinked away his blank stare when a familiar form crossed the bullpen with the usual sort of purpose and intent. He glanced back at Sam, who was speaking on the phone and winked as she nodded at him in her knowing manner.
Jack tapped the top of Danny's desk as he headed towards the large conference table in front of the white board. Vivian and Martin followed close behind Danny, taking seats around the table. Walking around the table, Jack silently handed each member their own file, each containing the same data.
Vivian opened the folder and paused. As with every case, there was always a photo that aided the information they received. This photo was different. She glanced up at Danny who was sitting across from her, the same look on his face. The woman, aged 21, looked startlingly like their very own Samantha Spade.
"Sorry about that, I think I may have found what I was looking for," said Sam contentedly as she took a seat beside Danny.
"No problem," said Jack, passing her a file. "We have Melanie Myers, age 21 third year student at Melburne University. She was double majoring in Psychology and Political Science. However, she is currently taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. As of right now," Jack checked his watch, "she's been missing almost 15 hours."
Questions began flying around, everyone avoiding the obvious similarity in the features of the agent sitting at the table and their victim. No one noticed at Sam laid the file on the table and sat back in her chair, the blood pounding in her ears. She blinked her eyes quickly as she tried to decipher what those around her were saying, but she couldn't quite keep up. Overcoming the sensation, she recovered quickly and began to participate in their round of brainstorming and "20 questions".
"Do we have her schedule?" Sam asked, throwing a look at Jack as she scribbled down notes on her legal pad.
"No, but the school is faxing that along with her report cards and overall student summary within the hour," he replied.
"And we don't know why she took a semester off?" asked Martin.
"No, but you and Danny are going to find out. I want you two to head North as soon as possible. Viv, I want you to retrieve her phone records and all financial information. Sam, start the background research and I'll get the schedule to you as soon as it comes in."
The team dispersed in several locations, Danny arranging to get to Melburne University, Martin calling school officials to make an appointment. Vivan began making the usual calls and Sam went to her desk and began accessing the proper databases.
--------------------------
Danny followed Martin as they climbed the stairs to the dorm room in which Melanie Myers lived. They'd already spoken to her academic advisor and learned that she was an exemplary student, very active and outgoing. She was at least until two months ago. Her grades didn't deteriorate too badly, but her social life had all but flown out the window. She did however, maintain close contact with a small group of friends and her boyfriend Troy Harris, a seminary student at the theological college.
As far as the leave of absence, the advisor didn't have much to offer other than she'd been experiencing some emotional problems and that her family was having trouble at home. Danny asked the questions as Martin scribbled away furiously, taking in all he could. They spoke with her a few more minutes but came away with nothing solid.
Martin and Danny knocked on the dorm room and encountered a petite, blond haired 21 year old. Her eyes were puffy and she looked slightly frazzled.
"Hello, I'm Special Agent Fitzgerald and this is Special Agent Taylor."
"I know, you're here for Mel. Have you already seen Troy? He's totally distraught. We have no idea where she could be."
"Does she have family nearby?" The question elicited a confused response from the young woman.
"Family? The only family she has is an ailing grandmother who kicked her out when she was 17. Mel used to be somewhat of a partyer."
"I'm sorry what was your name?" asked Martin quickly.
"Oh, sorry, I am Anna Stanton. I've roomed with Mel for the past three years."
"Back to the partying. Does she still do that?"
"No, she is much more studious now, she reformed her ways before second quarter of our first year."
"Quarter?"
"Yes, the school runs on the quarter system. We are both on the accelerated program that guarantees us immediate entrance to a post graduate program."
"What was Melanie planning to become?"
"She wasn't definite, but I think she was leaning towards a political analyst."
"Interesting. How long has she known Troy?"
"Since the first day she set foot on the grounds. They didn't start dating until last year though. Up until then it had been one-sided on his part."
"Do you know how Melanie still remained on campus even though she was taking leave?" asked Danny.
"Leave of what?"
"Classes?"
"She was going to class."
Danny looked at Martin. "No, she's taken a leave of absence."
"I don't understand. The last time I saw her, she was leaving for her advanced French class."
"Unless her advisor and the school are misinformed, she hasn't stepped foot in a class since the third week in February."
An alarm went off in the background and Anna frowned.
"She's been lying to me for the past five weeks?" she climbed up her bed and hastily shut of the clock.
"Afraid so. Do you have somewhere you need to be?"
"Yes, I'm sorry, I have a study session to go to. We have exams next week. You can stay and look around if you like. I should be back by about 10:30. Please give me a call if you have any more questions."
"We will, thanks," said Martin as the young woman kindly excused herself, leaving her cell phone number with Danny.
"How did her roommate not know she wasn't going to class?" asked Danny as they pilfered through the room, looking at Melanie's personal belongings.
"Better yet, the advisor had the opinion that Melanie had more family than what she really had. I think we have a confused girl on our hands."
"Confused?"
"Well, that or a pathological liar," said Martin, the eternal pessimist.
"Either way, as soon as we're done here, we need to speak with the boyfriend."
"Right."
TBC.
Spoilers: Up through Victory through Humanity
Summary: Jack and the team search for a missing 21 year old.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters nor the show. A/N: I am trying my hardest to make this like a real case. Melburne University is completely fictional but could be compared to Columbia or a school of such value. This story will be very dark and will completely trespass into dangerous character development territory. This goes out to the Maple St. Crew. Enjoy!
It was quiet in the office as the team waited for the inevitable case that would consume the next few days of their existence. Viv and Martin occasionally passed a file back and forth, Danny got up frequently to walk around the office and Sam worked on an unsolved case that she saved for her spare time. Rarely were they ever free, most of the time cases overlapped or got passed along to other departments if left unsolved. When the team got the chance to relax, they normally caught up on reports and unfinished business.
Every time they saw someone approach their cluster of desks, an anxious sensation in the pit of their stomachs produced an impatience to learn of their new task. In an entire day, they'd received not one call, fax or visit. Martin walked by Jack's office every so often to see if Jack was holding out on them, the wait creating a dreadful suspense.
Danny sat at his desk, nervously tapping his pencil, staring at the numerous patches and photos tacked to the board on his desk. He immediately blinked away his blank stare when a familiar form crossed the bullpen with the usual sort of purpose and intent. He glanced back at Sam, who was speaking on the phone and winked as she nodded at him in her knowing manner.
Jack tapped the top of Danny's desk as he headed towards the large conference table in front of the white board. Vivian and Martin followed close behind Danny, taking seats around the table. Walking around the table, Jack silently handed each member their own file, each containing the same data.
Vivian opened the folder and paused. As with every case, there was always a photo that aided the information they received. This photo was different. She glanced up at Danny who was sitting across from her, the same look on his face. The woman, aged 21, looked startlingly like their very own Samantha Spade.
"Sorry about that, I think I may have found what I was looking for," said Sam contentedly as she took a seat beside Danny.
"No problem," said Jack, passing her a file. "We have Melanie Myers, age 21 third year student at Melburne University. She was double majoring in Psychology and Political Science. However, she is currently taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. As of right now," Jack checked his watch, "she's been missing almost 15 hours."
Questions began flying around, everyone avoiding the obvious similarity in the features of the agent sitting at the table and their victim. No one noticed at Sam laid the file on the table and sat back in her chair, the blood pounding in her ears. She blinked her eyes quickly as she tried to decipher what those around her were saying, but she couldn't quite keep up. Overcoming the sensation, she recovered quickly and began to participate in their round of brainstorming and "20 questions".
"Do we have her schedule?" Sam asked, throwing a look at Jack as she scribbled down notes on her legal pad.
"No, but the school is faxing that along with her report cards and overall student summary within the hour," he replied.
"And we don't know why she took a semester off?" asked Martin.
"No, but you and Danny are going to find out. I want you two to head North as soon as possible. Viv, I want you to retrieve her phone records and all financial information. Sam, start the background research and I'll get the schedule to you as soon as it comes in."
The team dispersed in several locations, Danny arranging to get to Melburne University, Martin calling school officials to make an appointment. Vivan began making the usual calls and Sam went to her desk and began accessing the proper databases.
--------------------------
Danny followed Martin as they climbed the stairs to the dorm room in which Melanie Myers lived. They'd already spoken to her academic advisor and learned that she was an exemplary student, very active and outgoing. She was at least until two months ago. Her grades didn't deteriorate too badly, but her social life had all but flown out the window. She did however, maintain close contact with a small group of friends and her boyfriend Troy Harris, a seminary student at the theological college.
As far as the leave of absence, the advisor didn't have much to offer other than she'd been experiencing some emotional problems and that her family was having trouble at home. Danny asked the questions as Martin scribbled away furiously, taking in all he could. They spoke with her a few more minutes but came away with nothing solid.
Martin and Danny knocked on the dorm room and encountered a petite, blond haired 21 year old. Her eyes were puffy and she looked slightly frazzled.
"Hello, I'm Special Agent Fitzgerald and this is Special Agent Taylor."
"I know, you're here for Mel. Have you already seen Troy? He's totally distraught. We have no idea where she could be."
"Does she have family nearby?" The question elicited a confused response from the young woman.
"Family? The only family she has is an ailing grandmother who kicked her out when she was 17. Mel used to be somewhat of a partyer."
"I'm sorry what was your name?" asked Martin quickly.
"Oh, sorry, I am Anna Stanton. I've roomed with Mel for the past three years."
"Back to the partying. Does she still do that?"
"No, she is much more studious now, she reformed her ways before second quarter of our first year."
"Quarter?"
"Yes, the school runs on the quarter system. We are both on the accelerated program that guarantees us immediate entrance to a post graduate program."
"What was Melanie planning to become?"
"She wasn't definite, but I think she was leaning towards a political analyst."
"Interesting. How long has she known Troy?"
"Since the first day she set foot on the grounds. They didn't start dating until last year though. Up until then it had been one-sided on his part."
"Do you know how Melanie still remained on campus even though she was taking leave?" asked Danny.
"Leave of what?"
"Classes?"
"She was going to class."
Danny looked at Martin. "No, she's taken a leave of absence."
"I don't understand. The last time I saw her, she was leaving for her advanced French class."
"Unless her advisor and the school are misinformed, she hasn't stepped foot in a class since the third week in February."
An alarm went off in the background and Anna frowned.
"She's been lying to me for the past five weeks?" she climbed up her bed and hastily shut of the clock.
"Afraid so. Do you have somewhere you need to be?"
"Yes, I'm sorry, I have a study session to go to. We have exams next week. You can stay and look around if you like. I should be back by about 10:30. Please give me a call if you have any more questions."
"We will, thanks," said Martin as the young woman kindly excused herself, leaving her cell phone number with Danny.
"How did her roommate not know she wasn't going to class?" asked Danny as they pilfered through the room, looking at Melanie's personal belongings.
"Better yet, the advisor had the opinion that Melanie had more family than what she really had. I think we have a confused girl on our hands."
"Confused?"
"Well, that or a pathological liar," said Martin, the eternal pessimist.
"Either way, as soon as we're done here, we need to speak with the boyfriend."
"Right."
TBC.