The GYM

As you led Larry down the path to the left, you were headed towards the Mary Michelle Miller Memorial Fitness Center. Perhaps ten years ago, Mary Miller had been a superstar athlete in high school. She had been offered full college scholarships in three different sports and several other schools had shown interest in her in a couple other sports. She probably would have made it to the Olympics in softball, distance running or swimming…Possibly all three. Afterwards, she was likely to play in the WNBA. She was stopped by a drunk driver.

His wife and daughter gone, a distraught Alan Miller had donated a top of the line gymnasium to the school. He had hoped that his daughter could have the fame in **** that she would no longer be able to gain in life. It couldn’t compete with the facilities provided by a big school like Ohio State or USC, but it allowed the students to participate in any or all of the major college sports if they wished. It also had first rate cardio and strength training rooms.

“Closed for finals” the sign over the door stated. You tested several of the doors and found them all locked. Undaunted, you continued to the corner of the building and beckoned to Larry. He followed you to a pair of fire doors. He gaped in wonder as you pulled one of them open. Even if the panic bar on the inside of the door had been pushed in to release the door’s latch, there was no handle on the outside to get a grip on. With a nod, you motioned for him go in.

You were at the junction of a couple hallways. The sign above the stairs to the right indicated that the stairs going up led to the bleachers for the basketball court. The stairs leading down went to the lower level which includes the handball courts, weight room and running track. The sign over the corridor to the left said it led to the swimming pool. In addition to an Olympic sized swimming pool, there was a diving pool complete with ten meter platform. Beyond that is the access to the football and softball fields. The corridor straight ahead led to the floor of the basketball court as well as the locker rooms and trainer’s room.

You looked at Larry and let the door close and latch behind you. There were several people who would have had access to the gym even though it would have been closed. You had no doubt Cindy or one of the star athletes she hung around with could con one of those out of their key to the gym. That meant she had probably entered through the main entrance which was locked. You could cut through the basketball court to get the main entrance, but that was pointless. You looked at the various destinations.