Read Online [Janitors 01] Janitors by Tyler Whitesides - Free Book Online Page A

“The Bureau’s a government agency.” He opened his backpack. “I got more info,” he said, handing Daisy a printed e-mail.
    She read intently, mumbling every fifth word or so. But Spencer didn’t need her to read it out loud. He’d read the message so many times he almost had it memorized.
    To: [email protected]
    From: [email protected]
    Subject: Instructions
    Spencer:
    I believe we were able to determine the location of Walter Jamison’s bronze nail. At the end of the hallway by the gym is a boy’s bathroom. The restroom has been labeled “out of order.”
    The door is normally locked, but I managed to jam the lock during our routine inspection. Somewhere in the bathroom is the nail. Before you go for the hammer, you must know exactly where the nail is. Here’s the plan:
    At precisely 11:06 tomorrow morning, the power will go out at Welcher Elementary School. The power will remain off for eight minutes. You should be able to get inside the bathroom without anyone seeing. Also, with the lights off, your flashlight will come in handy. Use the flashlight to locate the nail, then get back to your classroom and wait for more instructions via e-mail. Be careful, and watch out for the janitors!
    Garth Hadley BEM regional representative
    “I always wondered about that bathroom by the gym,” Daisy said. “It was out of order for months last year. Wonder why the janitors haven’t fixed it yet.”
    “Because it’s not broken,” Spencer said. “They just say it’s out of order so they can hide the nail in there and nobody will go in.” Spencer checked his watch. “Hmm—11:06. That’s only two hours from now. Are you coming with me?”
    “You only have one glove,” Daisy said.
    “We shouldn’t need it,” Spencer answered. “Remember, this time we’re just scouting for the nail.”
    “Yeah.” Daisy swallowed hard. “I’ll come.”

Chapter 14
    “Take the hall pass.”
    By the time the clock showed 11:00, Spencer’s hands were sweating. He kept glancing at Daisy. Her eyes shifted nervously from the clock to her worksheet and back to the clock. What was she doing? Daisy was supposed to be out of the classroom with the hall pass by now.
    Spencer checked his wristwatch. The digital screen showed 00:00. Since Mr. Hadley’s 11:06 might not be the same as Mrs. Natcher’s 11:06, Spencer was ready to hit “start” on his watch the minute the power went out. From there, he would have eight minutes to rendezvous with Daisy in the hallway, check the “out of order” bathroom, and get back to the classroom. If Daisy would ever leave!
    Finally, at 11:01 and a half, Daisy’s hand shot up, the gesture screaming urgency.
    “Yes, Daisy?” Mrs. Natcher said, peering over her glasses in the usual manner.
    “May I please go to the restroom, Mrs. Natcher?”
    Mrs. Natcher breathed deeply through her nose as she looked at the clock. With three pairs of eyes on the clock, Spencer wondered if the minute hand would freeze under pressure. Evidently deeming it a good time to grant Daisy’s wish, Mrs. Natcher simply said, “Take the hall pass,” and looked back at the computer screen on her desk.
    Mrs. Natcher, for some odd reason, used a bald baby doll wearing nothing but a diaper for a hall pass. Whatever the teacher’s reasons, the doll (nicknamed Baybee) usually embarrassed students enough to prevent unnecessary trips out of the classroom. But at 11:02, Daisy leapt up, snatched Baybee without reserve, and disappeared out the door.
    The next four minutes passed like hours for Spencer. His worksheet was untouched on his desk. He quietly clicked his tongue with each movement of the red second hand. Dissatisfied by the sluggish tempo of the clock, he began clicking twice for each second.
    “Shut up,” Dez grunted at his side, but Spencer didn’t hear him.
    Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . .
    11:06.
    Nothing.
    Spencer glanced up at the fluorescent tube lights on the ceiling. Not so much