Don't Get Caught(45)

“Agreed. And you could meet me in the middle by tightening up some.”

“I’ll do my best.”

It’s possible there’s a real human in Stranko somewhere—the joking, dancing, young Stranko just biding his time until he can make a triumphant return. Wouldn’t that be nice? The thought makes me not scared of him for the first time in my life. It’s not a feeling that lasts long.

“Actually, while you’re here, let me show you something,” Stranko says and removes a cell phone from his pocket and places it in front of me. “This is my new phone. I had to get this one because I lost my old one. In fact, interestingly enough, it disappeared on the day of your little stunt in the cafeteria with the trophy. Do you remember that?”

I swallow my terror.

“Is there anything you want to tell me about that day?”

I can barely get words out.

“What do you mean?”

Stranko leans so close and speaks so quietly that if anyone else were in the room, they couldn’t hear him.

“Don’t bullshit me, Cobb. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that my phone went missing at the same time you idiots were chasing each other around the cafeteria. I’m going to figure out what happened, and when I do, I’m going to rain hell on whomever was involved. If you have any information that could help, this is your chance to let me know.”

I don’t piss myself, but, man, I could.

“I don’t know anything,” I say.

Stranko doesn’t move.

“Of course you don’t, Cobb. Of course you don’t.”

A knock at the door saves me.

Mrs. Engen, Stranko’s secretary, hurries in and whispers something I can’t make out. Not that I need to hear her. I sit up and reposition myself to capture everything. Stranko performs a few clicks on his computer and goes from serious to concerned to infuriated all in a matter of seconds.

“You, get out.”

“What’s wrong?” I say.

Stranko doesn’t answer, doesn’t even tell me to leave again because he’s fully focused on the pictures Ellie’s uploaded onto our fake Chaos Club site. They’ve been there since this morning, but the program Wheeler pirated for Ellie only sent the mass email and text to the staff and student body two minutes ago.

“Dammit!”

Stranko pounds the desk so hard, he’s lucky his hand doesn’t go all the way through. I remain frozen, so the camera catches everything. Stranko’s eyes strain like they might come out of his head. It’s frighteningly awesome.

“Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!”

I practically hit the ceiling at the outburst.

“What are you still doing here?” he shouts. “Get the hell out!”

I leave so fast there’s a vapor trail.

In each office I pass, guidance counselors, secretaries, and even the school psychologist are staring at their computers. In the classrooms, I walk by kids who have their phones out, not even trying to hide their laughter.

I’m happy for Ellie. Her idea was brilliant, and I’m sure some part of her wishes everyone knew that she’s the one who’s pulled this off. Because even though she’s in every picture, no one can tell it’s her. Why? Because she’s wearing the Zippy the Golden Eagle mascot costume she stole during the homecoming game.

Among the pictures we took:

1. Zippy spray-painting a naked woman on the side of a vacant building downtown.

2. Zippy with an ax poised over a neighborhood dog’s neck.

3. Zippy pretending to take a leak on the school sign.

4. Zippy hunched over, ready to snort a long line of white power through his massive beak.

5. Zippy passed out on the football field surrounded by beer cans and condoms.

6. And the final image—Zippy standing on a bucket with a noose around his neck.

Oh, and prominently displayed in each picture on Zippy’s feathery chest? A Chaos Club card.

? ? ?

After school, I head in the direction of Ellie’s homeroom and spot her in the hall coming my way, unable to hold back her excitement.

“Did you get it? Please tell me you got it.”

I tap the phone in my pocket.

Ellie throws her arms around me and kisses my cheek hard in the middle of the crowded hall. The tent I pitch could house a circus.

“Can I see it?” she says, referring, unfortunately, to the video.

“Let’s wait until we get to your car. Too many people around.”

“Come on then!”

Ellie pulls at my hand, dragging me toward the exit. Her excitement is contagious, and soon, I’m rushing through the halls with her. We’re closing in on the front lobby by the main office, when coming toward us is the last person in the world I want to see: Stranko. I slow a little, thinking maybe we should duck into a classroom, but Ellie’s tugs at my arm.

“Relax,” she says. “Act natural.”

I grip Ellie’s hand tight as Stranko approaches. We don’t need to worry though. Stranko goes right past us like we’re not there. He’s on a mission, and from the tight set of his jaw, it’s one to seek and destroy. And I know Stranko’s target because he was muttering the name under his breath as he passed.

“We have to follow him,” I say.

“Why? Do you think he found out who did the doors?”