Free Case File 13 #2 by J. Scott Savage

from the dark sky and Nick zipped up his wind-breaker. He couldn’t help envying Angelo’s long leather coat that he’d mocked earlier.
    Carter looked around the empty platform and shivered. “Does anyone else think it’s more than a coincidence that the school is located in a city called the devil’s valley?”
    â€œThe city was here long before the school,” Dana said.
    â€œRight. But why did they pick this city for the school? Maybe because they perform satanic rituals? Maybe because they use dead bodies as bait for powerful demons from another dimension?”
    â€œMaybe your brain’s been liquefied by all that soda,” Tiffany said.
    â€œAt least I have a brain,” Carter said. “If you pointed a light into one of your ears it would shine out the other.”
    Nick shoved his hands in his pockets and started down the stairs to the parking lot, trying not to think about what Alabaster and Stenson had said. Anything that could scare a ghost had to be pretty darn terrifying.
    According to their directions, the school was just over a mile to the west, but they’d only walked a few blocks from the station when Dana pointed and said, “Is that what I think it is?”
    Nick looked where she was pointing and involuntarily stepped backward. Standing high on the edge of a bluff overlooking the rest of the town was what looked like a mansion or an old European castle pulled straight out of a horror movie. Dark turrets stabbed up at the night sky and big black windows stared down on the town like empty eye sockets.
    Carter gulped. “That can’t be a school. It’s way too creepy.”
    Angelo bit his lip and checked the map. “That’s got to be it.”
    Even Angie looked like she was having second thoughts when a hand dropped onto Nick’s shoulder. He turned to find the man from the train standing right behind him.
    â€œGotcha,” he said in an eerily familiar voice.
    â€œWha—what do you want?” Nick stammered, trying to pull away.
    â€œI want to know what you guys are up to.” The man took off the hat he’d worn low over his eyes and Nick recognized the face glaring at him.
    It was Cody Gills.

Angie jabbed a finger into Frankenstein’s chest. “You followed us.”
    â€œI sure did,” Cody said. “First you guys are sneaking around the cemetery. And now this. What’s next? Robbing banks?”
    â€œThat was you creeping around in the bushes?” Nick asked.
    â€œSomeone has to keep an eye on you guys.” He looked up at the castle-like school building. “Are you going to that house?”
    â€œIt’s not a house.” Angelo was the only one of them tall enough to look Cody in the eyes. “It’s Sumina Prep.”
    â€œThe school the Rams played Friday?” Cody’s eyes widened. “You guys aren’t going to vandalize it, are you? That’s against the law.”
    â€œOf course not,” Dana said. “We’re just looking.”
    â€œAnd making a movie,” Angelo said. “For the Building a Brighter Tomorrow contest.”
    Cody folded his massive arms across his chest. “If you’re just making a movie, why sneak around on a Sunday night?”
    Nick groaned. “This is none of your business. Just go back home, okay? I promise we won’t break any laws.”
    Cody shook his head. “Not unless you come back too. Do you realize how much trouble you’ll be in if you get caught trespassing in a private school at night?”
    â€œWe aren’t going to get caught.” Angie slugged Cody on the shoulder, but the big boy didn’t flinch. “Look, we think the guy who runs that school is . . . well, let’s just say he’s doing some bad stuff. Don’t you think it’s our duty to find out?”
    â€œNope.” Cody looked stubbornly from face to face. He shook his head, water splashing