Partners In Crime

20 Tooth And Nail

"You sure you saw wasn't in your head?" Derick asked.
"Yes. Definitely.  Why don't you believe me?"

It was break time when Joe came to Chelsea and Derick behind the school - that was the blonde's choice.

This was their tragic temporal base. And it's clear to almost everyone that things had to change sooner rather than later. The deadline is drawing closer and closer and the weather couldn't be any more ballistic.  And it seems like today things are turning around after days of dead ends and blunders. But even then the two had to be certain that Joe was being legitimate. The last time they went in blindly it nearly cost them.

"We do," Derick assured his friend. "It's just that, oh what's the word? Chelsea help me out here. Chels?" the boy turned around to see the girl looking from the side of the school, where the kids were playing and having fun.
"Chelsea!" Derick shouted.
The girl flinched.
"We're in the middle of a conversation here. What are you doing?"
The girl chuckled weakly, hands behind her back.
"Oh, urm. I'm scouting the area. You know, for teachers."
"For ten minutes?"
"Fine." she reluctantly caved with contempt.
"Anyway, as I was saying," Joe clarified.
"I think Maddie is up to something."
Chelsea walked up to the boy with emotionless eyes, her voice cold.
"No offence, Joey, but we have bigger fish to fry than a student trying to adjust from losing her abuser in unorthodox methods."
But Joesph, despite showing fear, stood his ground.
"But don't you think it's weird that she's keeping a secret that could be pivotal down the line?"
"It's outside our jurisdiction. Go to the head. Now!"
"Hold on a sec, Chels," Derick interjects.
"Maybe this isn't a bad idea."
"You can't be serious." The blonde was stunned.
"Think about it." Derick protested.
"We're currently not going anywhere with this case. It won't hurt to sidetrack for a day. Who knows? Maybe it might correlate to some degree."
"Ok. But with every minute we spend procrastinating, another minute on the final day of the holidays comes in. And if this turns out to be pointless, it'll be on your head."
Derick teased.
"Look who's getting invested in the case."
"Whatever. I sure hope this is worth it.
__________________________

Maddie Ress is the only student the two haven't interrogated on the case. The reason they haven't is because the girl can't even keep her cool in high situations, let alone commit a crime. But looks can be deceiving. And that's the lesson the two are going to learn the hard way.
When they arrived, it was exactly how Joesph described it, except it looked like an apartment that long passed its prime. It also seemed like the place was left in a hurry; she had to go to Form. However, there was more to this than meets the eye.

At once the two examined the place for clues, seeing if there was anything the girl left. Some sort of trace.
Then there was a locker. So Joe was right in that his field of vision misconstrued what the thing was. It wasn't a door at all. And Derick did not doubt in his mind that it used to belong to the janitor. Whether he forgot it or got a new one when moved to another block was all the same to him.
And now that Maddie has two lockers. Either of them could lead to diabolical situations.

Derick attempted opening it but it won't budge.
"No dice," he groaned. "We need a key."
"No, we don't, Sherlock. Step aside. I got this. Because closely everything has to be done by a professional. I mean, do I have to do everything around here? Geeze." Chelsea offered. She got out of her paper clip and penetrated the knobe. And like magic, within moments, it clicked. It swung open, moaning with permission and ease.

"Way to go, Gabriella!" Derick commemorated her.  The girl blushed bashfully.
"Yeah-whatever. It's not like rocket science, you know. And don't call me that!"
"Noted."

Inside the locker was a multitude of items. They're all escape tools, including a trove the two caught Rodney using last week.
This only means one thing: Maddie has been paying items to help Rodeny escape from school, then hides it here.
But why? Doesn't she have a receipt?