LIBBY
It's Saturday and it's the morning of their prom. Libby dropped by the school to check on the gym's final decorations took place. The coordinators, Marshalls, and performers are arriving one by one. She had to talked to Mitzi the head of the events team for the update though she already knew that everything is already in placed.
"Libby, what are you doing here?," asked Mitzi. "I could update you on the phone, you know." She told her while raising her phone.
"Well," Libby smiled. "I want to be here personally, so if a problem arised, we can immediately decide on what to do."
"Good girl," Mitzi smiled. "You can go a long way with that attitude. Anyway, we're almost done with the final touches for the decorations, the tables and chairs are already set up, the lights are also done. I heard also that the performers are already complete."
"Thank you Mitzi," Libby said. "I know that our event will be smooth sailing once your event teams handled it."
"No. Thank you, Libby," Mitzi said. "You made our life so much easier." She gestured Libby towards the gym's door. "So now, go home, pretty up, enjoy your Prom later."
"Okay, okay," Libby said giggling. "Bye!" And she walked towards the school's gate. She got her phone and dialled Mimi's number.
"Hey, Mimi!"
"Where are you girl?" Mimi asked on the other line. "May, Nikki, Ashley and I are already here at the salon."
"I'm heading there now. I'm here at the school to check on things. But I'm on my way now. In fact, I'm already here outside the school waiting for a cab."
"Hurry, Libby!" she heard the girls shouted at the background.
"Sure, sure, bye Mimi, see you in a while."
Just then, she heard someone call her name.
"Libby."
She turned around and she saw - Miss Jimenez walking towards her.
DAN
Grace, Dan's mom is tearfully looking at Dan while he went down the stairs fully dressed for his Prom. Dan is wearing an all black suit. His mask is in his hands. Eric, Dan's dad suddenly start taking photos of Dan and Grace who was surprised.
"C'mon Honey, don't take pictures of me," Grace said while covering her face.
"You're so cute when you look emotional sweetie," Eric said lovingly to his wife. "You look great son," he turned to Dan.
"Thank you Dad," smiled Dan. "How about a picture of you two?" He looked at his parents who are wearing casual party clothes. His parents are part of the parent-chaperone program of the school. He get the camera from his dad.
His parents posed by the stairs and smiled while he took their pictures.
"Okay, that's it," Grace said. It's almost seven o'clock, we need to go to the school."
As they are heading to the door, Dan's phone rang.
"Hello, Mimi?" answered Dan. "I'm on my way. We were just leaving the house."
"Dan, have you heard from Libby?" Mimi asked from the other line.
"Libby? Now? No, I haven't heard from her which is weird by the way. She's supposed to update us. The last I've heard from her is from this morning when she's at the school." Dan signalled to his parents to get inside the car first.
"Yeah, it's weird. She's supposed to go to the salon with us for hair and make up but she messaged us that she'll just do it at their house and she needs to do something first," Mimi told Dan.
"Hmmm.. How about Aunt Melinda and Uncle Jerry? Have you called them?" Dan asked.
"Well, not yet. I wouldn't want to worry them just in case."
"Okay, we'll check at her house on our way to school. You better get there. We're supposed to be the welcoming committee."
"Yep, Martin is already here. We'll leave in a while."
"Okay, be careful. I'll update you later."
"Okay Dan, thank you."
Dan has a sudden bad feeling after the call. He tried to shakes it off. He went inside the car.
"Dad, can we go to Libby's house first? I need to check on something."
"Sure Dan." And then they drove off. After ten minutes, they reached the Morales' residence. Dan adviced his parents to just wait for him in the car because he just needs to check on Libby. Before he can knock on the door, Joana, Libby's younger sister ran towards him.
"Dan, is Libby with you? Is she in the car?"
Dan froze. He then saw Melinda and Jerry, Libby's parents walking towards him, looking quite worried.
"Is Libby with you Dan? We've been trying to call her but she's not picking up since this morning." Melinda asked Dan.
"Uhm, Aunt Melinda, Libby's not with me. I just came by here because Mimi called and said she can't contact her also."
Melinda gasped and started to cry. Jerry went back to the house to get his phone.
Dan's parents went out of the car and walked towards them when they saw Melinda crying.
"Dan, what's happening?" Grace asked and gently hug Melinda.
"It's Libby, mom. We don't know where she is. No one has heard from her since this morning." Dan turned to Jerry who is now running towards them with his phone on his ear.
"Linda, darling, what is Libby wearing when she went out this morning? I'm calling the police."
"She's wearing her gray sweater with unicorn print and black leggings Daddy," Joanna is listening beside them answered. She looked worried. "Is Libby missing?"
"I need to inform Headmaster De Jesus" Dan said and dialled the Headmaster's number. "He needs to alert our security at the school. He also needs to give a statement to the police."
"This can't be happening," Dan told himself. "Please be safe Libby."
"Hello Dan? Where are you? May is the only one here at the welcoming committee." Headmaster De Jesus said at the other line.
"Headmaster.. I'm here at Libby's house. It seems that Libby is missing." Dan said.
There's a minute of silence.
"Hello Headmaster?"
"I'm still here Dan. I will inform everyone at the committee about what happened. Did you report it to the police yet?"
"Libby's dad is currently on the phone Headmaster. I'll go there as soon as possible. Will just give some information to the police when they arrive here."
"Okay Dan, please update me," said Headmaster De Jesus and they ended the call.
Dan dialled Mimi's number.
"Dan, are you at Libby's? Is she dressed already? Martin and I are on our way to the school. We'll arrived in less than ten minutes," Mimi said.
"Mimi.. Don't be shocked.. Libby is missing. She didn't go home like she told you earlier. Aunt Melinda and Uncle Jerry is on the phone now with the police."
"What? Oh, no, this can't be happening," Mimi said hysterically. "Martin, Libby is missing. What do we do?" Dan heard Mimi is telling Martin. "Dan? Wait for us, we'll go there."
"No Mimi, go directly to school. Meet up with Headmaster De Jesus. I've already informed him. Check with the events team. They are the last people to see Libby this morning right?"
"Okay, we're near the school. Martin called up his parents. I'll update you later."
"Okay Mimi. I will also go there at the school later. I will just wait for the police here. Be careful."
After the call, the bad feeling Dan felt earlier intensifies.
"I hope Coach Bradley is not the cause of this. If it is, I don't know what I will do to him. Not my friends."
MIMI AND THE MYSTERY CLUB
Mimi's hands are trembling. She's worried and scared. They've been avoiding the thought of Coach Bradley's revenge for weeks now because they have so much to do. And since they've reported every sighting of Coach Bradley to the police, they thought that everything will be okay.
"My parents are also on the way. They've already coordinated with Headmaster De Jesus. Security officers are already informed," Martin told Mimi. "They are talking about cancelling the program and focus on finding Libby. We'll know more once we arrive. They are setting up at the gym."
Mimi nodded. After a while, they reached the school and headed towards the gym where many of the students attendees are already gathered. They can also see the mystery club members at one side, the Head and the Deputy of the security office, some teachers, some parents and Headmaster De Jesus.
"Mimi!" Ashley called. "Come here." Mimi and Martin walked towards them. "Headmaster said he'll make an announcement in a while. And they'll send a schoolwide broadcast for those who are not yet here."
They see Headmaster De Jesus at front holding a microphone. Everybody became quiet.
"Good evening. It is unfortunate that I am here to announce that due to unforseen and terrifying event that occur this morning, we have no choice but to cancel tonight's event. Rest assured that we will reschedule once all is settled."
There's a buzzing sound from students whispers. Some already heard what happened to Libby. While others are still clueless. Headmaster De Jesus raised his hand to signal silence.
"Some of you may be disappointed because we've been waiting for this night. And the efforts shown by our Prom Committee just to create this magical night is unmatched." He sighed. "I want to be transparent. And I am informing you this so that each one of you will be careful. Libby, the head of the Prom Committee, one of our school leaders, has gone missing since this morning."
Gasped was heard from the crowd. Some are shocked. And you can see that most of them are worried.
"We need you to stay at least an hour. We'll just devise a quick plan to send each one of you safely home. You may proceed inside. The food will be served and won't go to waste. As for the events team, I believe that you are the last people to see her earlier?"
Mitzi, the head of the events team nodded.
"Police will be here in a few minutes. Let's give them our statement."
The team replied in unison "Okay."
"Students, parents, again our apologies, you may proceed inside. You may eat now while waiting for another announcement."
Mimi felt dizzy. Martin helped her. They, together with Jon, Ashley, Kate, May and Nikki sat around a table. Martin's parents, the school owners update them of the investigation. Apparently, the school's CCTV captured Libby this morning near the gate and that someone approached her. It doesn't show who because the video only captured half of the body. It only shows that Libby walked away with the suspect.
"It seems that Libby wasn't forced. She's just walking with whoever that is." Jon commented while watching the CCTV footage.
"We don't know Jon. Maybe that someone is armed," said May. "We can't see the whole picture here. But I think that someone knows where the camera are positioned so that he or she is at that location."
"That's true," said Nikki.
"And we also don't know if there's only one person," Ashley said while signalling them to get closer. "I heard that Coach Bradley's not at home. The police already went there." Ashley's brother works at the station.
Just then, Dan arrives with news from Libby's house.
"Her parents and Joana are worried sick. If this is kidnapping, no Calles from the kidnappers yet. But they already set up just in case, so they can traced the call." Dan informed them. "How about here? No news yet?"
They played the footage for Dan.
"Wait, can you play it again but slowly this time? Focusing on that part where Libby is facing that person." Dan said.
They played it again.
"That's it!" He said while reaching for the pause button. He then pointed at the laptop's screen. He seemed excited. "It's a woman! She's talking to a woman."
They all stood up and ran towards their Headmaster.
"Headmaster! Has anyone checked on Miss Jimenez?" asked Mimi while catching her breath.
Headmaster De Jesus was startled and hit with the realization that they have four possible suspects - Coach Bradley, Miss Jimenez, Wilson and Nick Molina who acted as Mr. Gallego the private investigator to confused them last time. He immediately stood up to inform the police who are conducting interviews at the moment. He only advice them earlier about Coach Bradley and when they found out that he's not at home, pursued a man hunt. Mimi and the rest of the mystery club trailed behind him. When he reached the head of the investigation, Detective Zapanta, he told them about the other possible suspects.
Detective Zapanta conferred with his team. He then assigned six guys to check on the other three suspects. He also advised Headmaster De Jesus that they were able to get statements from everyone present that night and that they may all head home. The detectives will now head to Libby's house to wait for the call. Headmaster De Jesus thanked the detectives and showed them out.
When he came back, he went to the stage and made an announcement.
"Thank you everyone for your cooperation. The detectives will now proceed with the investigation. We still don't know where Libby is but we have possible suspects. The school encourage everyone to be more careful. We again apologize. This is not the event we wishes anyone to experience. For now, those with parents tonight may leave the school with your parents. Those that don't have, please coordinate with Miss Meneses. Vans and cars are already stand by to send all of you home. Kindly send a message to your advisers or friends or classmates once you're already home. Again, we apologize and thank you. You may all go now."
Mimi looked at her friend's, classmates' and schoolmates' faces. They all looked worried. This is their Prom Night. It should be memorable. But not memorable like this..