Chapter Text
Click. "This is Detective Rodger Dankovsky, badge number Three-Eight-One, the time is eight hundred on a Wednesday, i'm here with miss Shelly Fossilian investigating the Gardenview case file Four-Five-Six."
"Would you like to introduce yourself?"
Shelly clears her throat politely with a fist, placing her hands crossed over her lap as she begins. "Thank you." Another pause, words caught behind her teeth only letting a soft hiss of air escape. "My name is Shelly Fossilian, i work at the Gardenview educational centre for children as a museum host. I've worked there for about.." Yet another pause, flourescent lightbulbs above them buzz and catch dust. "Ten years now?"
"Ten years, and who did you work under for those ten years?" The air is stagnant, stuffy inside the cramped interrogation room. "I worked under Dandicus Dancifer, he was the head manager and owned the bottom floors."
"And who was the chairman?"
"I don't... Remember. I only remember Dandy." Rodger lifts his head, clearing his throat. "Dandicus, you mean?"
"Yes, my apologies. I meant Dandicus." Shelly rubs her arm, nervous sweat coating her palms.
"And your coworkers?"
"We where divided into section managers and general managers, i was with five others and my section manager was Shanon Mendez, i remember her vividly, she was very proactive in her work and especially when it came to fostering a comfortable environment for the children."
Scribbling filled the gaps silence made, Shelly swallowed thickly rubbing her thumbs over her hands methodically, dreading the next question at the tip of Rodger's tongue. "And how did you feel after she went missing?"
"Distraught.. It was difficult to come back to work." The buzzing amplified like bugs in her ears, drowning out the last sliver of coherent thought she had left as overwhelming dread filled the pit of her stomach. "She was like a big sister to me, i felt her absence the most i'd wager."
Tears prick at the corners of her eyes, she sharply inhales with newfound resolve to steel herself for the next question. "And when the others began going missing, how did you feel?"
"Scared. For myself the most, but i kept going back to work with as much optimism as i could muster, i needed to keep everyone else in high spirits."
"That's very commendable." Shelly's reply is a near whispered, "Thank you."
"Did you have any clue as to what, or how, they could've gone missing? Did they display any uncharacteristic behavior days before their disappearances?"
"Well, if i where to think about it, Shanon seemed more closed off and quiet the day before. I was admittedly, a bit concerned because she had divulged her past struggles with addiction to me and i was afraid she was showing signs that she had fallen down that slippery slope again."
"Addiction?"
Shelly's eyes flicker into something despondent and hollow. "Yes. She had a long history of alcohol abuse."
Rodger pauses. "We can take a break, you don't have to push yourself so hard."
"It's fine- I..." Shelly's voice abruptly stops and she hiccups, quickly covering her mouth. "Thank you.. We can.. Reschedule."
"Of course." The tape clicks.
"That's one off the list, i still don't think i'll be able to get ahold of the rest during this week, it semes likely i'll have to reschedule." Rodger sighs, rubbing at the bridge of his nose to relieve that lingering stubborn headache loitering behind his eyes. Fluorescent lighting did anything but mitigate that.
"Oh dear you'll be fine, this seems like a big one, hm?" That fancy familiar lilt echoed from the receiver, he stifled a yawn. "Yeah, a very big case that might take me years to crack." He groans, casting the deep navy sky above him a heated glare, it was only six and the sun had already fallen below the horizon.
"Years? You'll get it in no time darling, just keep a level head." Gentle laughter floated in the booth, he felt the need to proclaim his disapproval with a huff. "Surely a level head isn't enough to drag five separate people in for an interview, i've already sent out emails and only gotten two replies, one was a rejection as well just to rub salt in that wound."
Real bummer that one was, receiving a rejection was about as painful as watching his pay get docked for all his lollygagging and dereliction, possibly because that's what would actually lead to his salary receiving a devastating blow.
"Oho? How unfortunate, i guess you'll have to go treasure hunting then." A pause. "Treasure hunting? Might as well humor that, i think Gardenview has a treasure hunting exhibit too." That earned him a floaty giggle that tapers off into silence, she was always easy to humor, he remembers.
He watches headlights fly by, kicking up dust on the lonely midnight street. Reminds him of lonely slasher movies and dark empty alleyways devoid of all innocent. "You're doing something truly commendable Rodger, the case was cold when you picked it up, even if you don't solve it i think the victims feel grateful a detective decided to look twice."
"Thank you Teagan."
"I'm not babysitting Toodles on friday."
"Wait-" The line goes dead.
He exhales a frustrated sigh and places the phone back onto the handle. Curse that witch, could've warned him a week in advance not three days before, but that was just her style, wasn't it? Fashionably frustrating.
The night is still somewhat young, stragglers shambled down the streets to file into their homes for the night. He shuffled out of the phone booth, patting down his pockets to fish out his wallet for a cab. He'd have to skimp out on babysitters and bring Toodles in to the office, he still doesn't trust her to be home alone yet after last time she had completely emptied out the fridge to conduct possibly illicit experiments with cultivating salmonella and some unknown strain of botulism in his living room, a real mystery.
There's a conveniently placed cab idling near the sidewalk, he speedwalks over towards it and gently knocks at the window to request a ride back home, the driver numbly accepts his last fiver and he slides into the backseat, sighing at his empty wallet. Oh well, his payday was nearing so he'd fill his pockets with bills and save some more for Toodles' collage fund.
Money was awfully tight but they used to be comfortable. Keyword, used to. It was something that dwelled on the back of his mind, putting his work at such a high pedestal, chasing breadcrumbs for a chance to be in the limelight, to make someone grab his hands and thank him endlessly for finding out the truth. Briefly, he wonders if Toodles loathes him for pouring so much time into his work.
No, she doesn't and wouldn't. She thinks too highly of what he does to actually despise him for doing it. He can't help the guilt through, slithering around like a snake inflicting ugly poisonous wounds whenever his doubts resurface.
The cab slows and with a glance he notices Teagan in her long winter coat, furred hemlines and embezzled buttons reeking of wealth and status. One of those could fetch for his salary, he thinks idly as he exists the cab and waves the driver off, watching the car speed off into the distance over the horizon.
"You can't babysit on Friday?" He asks as he ascends the cobblestone steps up towards his front porch, Teagan's smile pulls on her smile lines and dimples as she replies with a honeyed voice. "No, i've got a dinner reservation." Now that piqued his interest, dinner reservations came rarely to Teagan having such high standards.
"With whom?" His inquiry earns him a lofty giggle. "Oh wouldn't you like to know honeysuckle?" Crows feet curl at the corners of her eyes as her smile pulls on them. He notes that her vibrantly platinum hair is still in those pinky curlers she uses after showering, oddly enough.
"Is someone driving you home?" He pulls on the doorhandle, looking back to watch her elegantly drop down the steps, heels clicking against the cobblestone. "Hm, yes i called Glisten for a favor." She shakes her coat, mist forms in front of her face as she hums, indicative of the rapidly dropping temperature he feels biting through his own coat.
He pauses with the door halfway ajar, giving Teagan the most impassively charming smile he can muster up.
"Alright, well, goodnight Teagan."
Teagan tilts her head, a small humorless smile playing on her lips. "Yes, goodnight Rodger." She definitely saw right through him. Well worth a shot he thinks.
He shuts the door, letting out a long winded suffering sigh. He shakes the lingering feelings and hangs up his trench coat on the rack, turning around to face a dark and quiet home. Toodles must already be asleep by now, curtesy of Teagan's strict bedtime routine.
Shuffling into the living room he yawns a jaw clicking wide yawn, popping the pressure in his knuckles, today had been entirely too long and it dragged until he couldn't even stand, his knees ached his back wailed in pain, and most of all he nearly dropped asleep right there in that alley.
The house is relatively clean, a few stuffed animals laying about on the couch that Toodles had not cleaned up yet, namely her prized spotted dog she carried around everywhere. It was surprising seeing the dog not within her grasp, she tended to sleep better with it snuggled neatly underneath her chin. He picked it up by the ear and rubbed the exhaustion out of his eyes, shuffling over towards her room upstairs.
As he entered, he found Toodles quietly sleeping with her comforter tucked over her chin, sleepily mumbling about some unintelligible garble nonsense. He leaned down to brush the dark curls from her forehead and plant a quick kiss, pulling back to secure the plush dog underneath her arm.
He lingered for a moment, wondering at how he would even begin to Toodles-proof the office in a few days. Thankfully, his job had granted him a day off tomorrow so he could spend some quality time with his daughter, though he was positive that she was one hell of a mystery fanatic, enough to drive him crazy with all her incessant begging to be apart of his 'very interestingly cool awesome cases' even on days he was granted a break.
Sighing, he made sure to make his steps quiet as he quickly shuffled out of her room, closing the door with a gentle click. Walking down the stairs he stretched, pulling a free hand to run through his messy hair he mused on what he should whip up for dinner tomorrow, he wasn't sure if Toodles would be in a stir fry mood or her regular classy chicken nuggets for dinner mood.
Either way, he desperately needed a shower and to clean up before bed, the day had defininetly taken a massive toll on him and the idea of sinking underneath the covers of his bed sounded perfectly heavenly.
His computer was wide awake, that surprised him. Hadn't he shut it off when he had left his house previously? Had Teagan decided to snoop? Nosy woman, that one. He approached the blue light shining through the screen, a notification in his inbox caught his wavering attention.
A reply from Dandicus!
Well, that definitely caught his attention, had his question been answered? Getting a full tour of the run down Gardenview center would be a massive milestone in his research to furthering the case. He clicked onto the email with fervor, a small smile playing on his lips, what fortune had he come across for the stars to finally begin aligning in his favor?
-It would be my pleasure to allow you to join me for a tour of the remains of our once bustling educational center. This case has been brewing on my mind as well admittedly, i would be much obliged to show you around the place. Would Friday work well for you?
Friday would be perfect.
Aside from Toodles having a freeday of course, he's sure Dandicus wouldn't mind though. An educational center host not enjoying children? Quite contrary to his job description.