[center [pic https://i.imgur.com/suIvOQ4.jpg?1]
[size12 [b "It's nice to meet you. I'm Gabriel McKenna."]
Kim stared at the end with some confusion at first. He didn't expect someone from outside of Hillside limits to be friendly like the other small-town residents, but he figured it wasn't outside of the realm of possibility. He switched the hand that held his thermos and gave Gabriel's a brief shake, his grip a bit loose so he could pull his hand quickly back.
[b "Kim Jun-Seo,"] he formally introduced, causing Mr. Carter to chuckle and waved the "juvie" kids over. The girl, who looked too scrawny to do much lifting and had stained her hair pink ages ago, came by with a slightly more optimistic attitude.
[b "Mr. Carter, what are the chances someone died here?"] she asked, looking absolutely fascinated with the idea.
[b "Claire, no one died at the old Hillside Center,"] Mr. Carter 'assured' her, earning a small pout from the girl. Kim wasn't as comfortable around the teens either, seeing as they appeared to be going through some sort of phase. He could hardly handle his own stress. Mr. Carter gave another laugh, this one more hearty, and waved a hand to bring the last couple of stragglers in, making him the de-facto leader of their tiny group.
[b "Remember everyone,"] Mr. Carter began. [b "We're just here to get the basework done of cleaning out the old center so the outreach group can come in and do the real work. Everything is being loaded up into Hillary's truck and my car to be taken to the Town Hall to be sorted and either disposed of or categorized. If you see anything unusual"]-
[b "Like murder evidence!"] Claire chipped in. The woman who Kim assumed was "Hillary" elbowed her and shook her head.
[b "Or anything that might indicate records of previous residents, we'll need to document those first to take to town hall as well. Mr. Smith was very interested in those documents for the outreach group."]
Kim rolled his eyes. Of course his friend was obsessed with the town's former residents. That seemed to be his favourite past time, documenting local history as if it were worldwide news. He never really gave any explanation aside from "personal interests" though. As soon as Mr. Carter concluded his speech, the small group began inside the old center.
The inside hadn't fared as well, but at least it was well put together enough to allow them to start on the first floor with ease. There was old furniture that was loaded into the back of Hillary's Ford. Mr. Carter had Clair going through any documents they found, something she did with the hopes of the ultimate murder mystery she fantasized about, and the other teen who Kim learned was named Eddie, worked with him and Gabriel to move furniture out. Apparently, everything in there was going to be replaced, and what could be salvaged would be sold to raise a little extra money for the shelter.
Kim realized he had barely touched his coffee by the time late afternoon rolled around, busy as he was. Mr. Carter had taken to cleaning after everyone, and was wearing rubber gloves and carting around cleaning supplies most of the afternoon. Bags of trash were added to the obviously lost-cause pieces taken from the home, and Hillary drove off with Eddie and another group member to unload it at the dump after having run what appeared "salvageable" to the town hall for inspection.
[b "How do you guys like pizza?"] Mr. Carter asked as he carefully dumped a bucket of what looked like dirty mop water down the kitchen sink. Kim shrugged, unwilling to rock the boat either way. [b "Have you two seen Claire? I think we lost her to the stacks."]
No sooner had Mr. Carter made his inquiry than the remaining trio of people heard the excited squeaking and thudding steps of young Claire, who had dashed out with what looked like a heavy box in her arms. For someone who was so little, she appeared to have more strength than Kim had initially anticipated.
[b "Guys! Check the box. Guys! This box! Right here. In my arms. Ow... Going down..."] Clair set the box on ground and sit next to it with a groan. Kim curiously opened it, and true to her word, old films labeled and left in canisters were stacked neatly in the box.
[b "I'm sure this is what Mr. Smith meant,"] he murmured, taking one of the canisters out and checking the label. It was a simple date and letter. It didn't even have the year. [b "October 9th, M. Mean anything to anyone?"] Kim held the canister up. It looked akin to an old Super 8 film. [b "I don't even think there's a camera that plays these anymore."]
[b "I might have one,"] Mr. Carter said. [b "Old hobby of mine. It doesn't hurt to watch a few before we turn them in."] Mr. Carter looked a bit impish in his suggestion, never one to turn down a good mystery either.]