Juji -- Teen Investigator

Chapter 10 - "Investigation Triumph"

    The rest of the school day passed by pretty quick. I had handed in homework, took tests and completed all my assignments, but I couldn’t help but spend the day concentrating on my investigation.

    There were people I needed to question and research that had to be done. I also wanted to document Pixley High rules, city laws, and penalties for possession and exchange of illegal drugs for students and teenagers younger than eighteen. If drugs were being brought onto campus and being sold, what would be the penalty?

    I considered confrontation of certain people and explaining the legal situation to them, but I was scared that would only make the overall problem harder to resolve. Another option would be to contact the police and just supply enough documented information to justify a legal investigation.

    Could all that result in formal arrest and prosecution? Or would it be written off as unprovable allegations? Also, what evidence would come from video and photos from my phone? Did I have enough detail for formally filing charges?

    After the final school bell ending the day, I went to my locker ready to load my backpack and pick up bicycle padding. I had a schedule laid out for further research in the school library. There were names and pictures I wanted to document.

    As I headed up the hall, I noticed Miss Dana sitting alone in her office and speaking on her phone. Principal Ivan was not in sight.

    I politely walked up to the office and knocked on her door. I then began opening the door and asked politely, “Hello Ms. Dana?”

    “Hunh?” Ms. Dana looked surprised as she spun around and mumbled into the phone. “I’ll have to call you back. Bye.”

    “Ms. Dana? I just had some questions,” I said.

    “I’m sorry. Mr. Ivan is not in his office. You will have to come back at an appropriate time. The principal will be available for student meetings tomorrow morning from eight o’clock until nine o’clock.”

    “I’m sorry, Ms. Dana. I just had a few questions for you if that’s okay.”

    “Me? I’m not a teacher or counselor. You’ll have to deal directly with Principal Ivan.”

    I immediately pulled out my phone, began recording, and sat down. “I have a few questions about certain students’ behavior and possible unapproved activities being practiced on school grounds.”

    Immediately, Ms. Dana looked confused. “Are you reporting a student for skipping class? Or trash not being recycled? You know how Mr. Ivan feels about these reports. He does not like these attention-seeking accusations.”

    “It’s just a few questions I had about the boy who was in your office this morning,” I quickly replied. “I just wanted to ask you...”

    “He’s my nephew,” Ms. Dana glared at me in confusion.

    “Your nephew?” I asked with confusion. “Can you tell me his name?”

    “I don’t know what business is it of yours who I speak to in my own office?”

    “He is not a current Pixley student and entered campus grounds at inappropriate hours,” I replied.

    “What business is that of yours?”

    “I know you’re aware, but he’s also been driving his Triumph car into the school parking lot at inappropriate hours,” I answered. “And I’m looking into his activities and dealings with students on campus.”

    “He is an alumnus of Pixley High School, and he is not breaking rules. He has my approval to be on campus.”

    “So your nephew did graduate from Pixley High School? Can you tell me the year he finished?”

    “That’s not your business,” she answered.

    I scribbled notes on my computer pad and continued, “His picture is not listed in a graduating class in the last five years. Can you tell me the year he graduated?”

    “He had his problems, and it’s true he didn’t get a diploma, but...”

    I interrupted, “Can you tell me what kept your nephew from graduating? Was it crimes possibly related to drugs?”

    “My nephew went through a lot,” replied Ms. Dan in a confused voice.

    “Drugs?”

    “Yes. But he...” She paused to think before answering, There was a lot of confusion, but we did all we could.”

    “Was it internal, or possibly laws outside of school?” I asked. “Possibly crimes possibly related to drugs?”

    “My nephew is now successful, and working with my mom... He has his own car...”

    “A TR-4A, built in 1965,” I responded. “Is that right?”

    Ms. Dana then stood up and walked to the door. “My family is proud of his work, and my mom’s company.”

    “Can you tell me the name of this company?” I asked without hesitation. “And where it is located.”

    “That is none of your business, young lady. It is time for you to leave.” Ms. Dana walked over to the door.

    “May I ask where your sister’s company is located? Is it in the city? A small business? Is it near the school?”

    “No.”

    “What does this business sell?”

    “My sister’s business is none of your business.” Ms. Dana looked at my recording phone as I walked over. “The actions of my sister, nephew, and niece are none of your business.”

    “Niece? Who is the niece? Does she attend Pixley?”

    “I’m not talking about my family,” Ms. Dana said while holding the door. “I will inform Mr. Ivan of your questions. Now please leave.”

    As I walked to the door I said politely, “Thank you, Ms. Dana. I will look into your sister’s business and your nephew’s work on my own.”

    “Good-bye Miss Juji.”

    I hurried out knowing the school library would be closing in just fifteen minutes, and I had crucial new information to investigate. As I ran up the hall, I saw Ms. Quincy stepping out ready to lock the door. The clock on my phone showed I had time so I put my foot into the doorway as I ran up.

    “I’m sorry Ms. Quincy, but it’s not yet time for the library to close.”

    “If I’ve determined a lack of student participation after the final bell rings, then I am allowed to close for the day. It’s my decision.”

    “But there is student participation,” I replied. “I have crucial items to look up on school computers, and thirteen minutes left of available time.”

    Ms. Quincy then looked around and answered, “Admission to the library is at the discretion of the chief librarian, and I have decided admission is not justified at this time due to the interest of a single student.”

    “Yes, but Rule number seven says ‘Dispute with policy enforcement may be appealed to the school board within seven days’.”

    I knew Ms. Quincy would win any disagreement with the school principal, but any involvement with the school board could cause greater damage. Reluctantly, Ms. Quincy backed up and unlocked the library door.

    “You have eleven minutes, and I will not hesitate to call school security to remove an undisciplined student after assigned hours.”

    “Thank you, Ms. Quincy. I’ll be done in eleven minutes.”

    Ms. Quincy stood by the door looking at her watch. My investigation was urgent. Who was Ms. Dana’s son? And what was he doing on campus? Why were students gathered around his car?

    I immediately opened pages from yearbook documentation going back about five years. I knew Winston did not graduate so I wasted no time looking at senior class photographs. Identification of the driver of the car, also known as the ‘d**g Baron’ could possibly be identified from sophomore and junior student pictures and was sure to reveal his full name.

    I went through yearbook names searching through pictures one year at a time. As I was going through junior class photos four years earlier, one face grabbed my attention. He was a boy with an angry face that I had not seen in any graduating class photos. His name was ‘Winston Baron’.

    I searched for information on his background and found he belonged to no clubs and no sports teams. I studied the photo and read all the information but could not verify his identity as the same as the boy in the parking lot.

    Ms. Quincy then spoke up, “Seven minutes Miss Juji.”

    “Yes mam, I’m almost done.” Without hesitation, I opened an index of the city’s registered businesses and typed in the name “Baron”. A list of names popped up, and I studied each name and connections with businesses. There was a “Baron Barber Shop” and a “Baron Construction” in a nearby city. I read descriptions of each business but saw no connection to Winston or Ms. Dana.

    “Two minutes,” said Ms. Quincy.

    I wanted to give up the search before one more business popped up which seemed to spark my interest. It was “Annie’s Antiques”. The downtown store was owned by Annie Barret and had a phone number but listed no employee names or connection to Pixley High School.

    Immediately, I switched to advertising websites listing business details around the city. “Annie’s Antiques” was listed as five years old with an address in a scary part of downtown. It was previously a bar but was turned into an antique shop. Nearby businesses in the downtown area were strip clubs and pawn shops.

    While examining a detailed map of the location, I checked aerial photos and exterior photos of the building. The first thing that stood out was a sign with a big red ‘AA’ in front of “Annie’s Antiques”. The two A’s looked the same as the logo I had seen inside the car.

    Without hesitation, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through pictures till I found the crumpled up papers. That AA logo was identical to the logo I had documented.

    I was then sure this was the business owned by the sister of Ms. Dana. Her name was Annie Barret, and this could possibly be the headquarters and supplier of the product being sold in the parking lot of the school.

    As I was downloading information of the location into a map program on my phone, I saw the closing time was three-thirty. This left me with less than twenty minutes to ride my bicycle across town.

    “Okay, Miss Juji. Your time is up. Please shut down the computer, return books, and clean up your desktop.”

    “Not a problem,” I said as I hurried to close programs on the computer and make my way out. “I have documented all necessary information and will not be checking out any material. Thank you, Ms. Quincy.”

    I quickly walked by as she stood by the doorway. “So you're leaving the library computer and now heading straight to your home computer?”

    “No, Ms. Quincy. I have a very important meeting scheduled, and I can’t be late.”

    “A meeting? Where do you have a meeting?” said Ms. Quincy with a confused look.

    “It’s more of a confrontation.”

    “RING!”

    The bell rang out as I darted out the door and raced down the empty hall.