[Janitors 03] Curse of the Broomstaff by Tyler Whitesides Page A

principal out of the cafeteria, glancing back at Aaron as he slipped through the door. The Monitor put his hands together and mouthed the words thank you!
    A moment later, Spencer was seated in the principal’s office. She drummed her fingers against the table, and Spencer wondered if that was standard procedure for all principals.
    “Whose class are you in, Spencer?” the principal finally asked.
    Spencer shrugged. It looked insubordinate, but he didn’t know how to answer.
    The principal pursed her lips. “Okay, so you want to play the hard way.” She grabbed the computer mouse, clicked twice, and typed his name into the system.
    Spencer braced himself. He knew what would happen once she discovered that he wasn’t actually a Triton student. The police would have to get involved. He’d be cited for trespassing and who knew what else.
    “Hmm . . .” the principal squinted at the computer screen. “So you’re in Ms. Bellingham’s sixth-grade class. She’ll be disappointed in you.” The principal scrolled down. “But I’m afraid that Mr. Alan Zumbro will be even more upset. I’m afraid I have to call your father.”
    Spencer’s eyes grew wider as she went on. “How do you know my dad’s name . . . ?” He was so ripe with astonishment that he could barely get the question out.
    “It’s all in the system.” The principal swiveled the computer screen so Spencer could see. How was it possible? There was a complete student profile for Spencer Zumbro!
    “Min,” Spencer mumbled. Somehow he had hacked Triton Charter School’s system and written a false profile.
    The principal dialed Alan’s phone number and waited. “He’s not answering.”
    Of course not. Alan was off the grid with the rest of the team. And now Alan was the only team member unaccounted for. Spencer found a clock on the wall. It was 11:58. In two minutes the final rendezvous time would expire. Once Spencer got free of the principal’s office, the team would have to move on without Alan.
    The principal had just started to leave a message when the office door suddenly burst open. Spencer went rigid with astonishment.
    “I hate to barge in like this, but I got a call from my son’s teacher, saying he was involved in some kind of food fight?”
    Alan Zumbro stood in the doorway.

Chapter 16
“Smelled like oranges.”
    A lan’s short brown hair was nicely combed, and a trim beard outlined his face. He wore black slacks and a gray, button-down shirt under his coat. For a moment, Spencer remembered what his dad used to look like when he taught biology at the junior high. But at second glance, Spencer noticed a rip in his pants and a dark stain on his shirt.
    “Is it true?” Alan asked, looking at Spencer for the first time in over a month. The principal set down the telephone as Spencer nodded wordlessly.
    Alan looked away and ran a hand through his beard, as if trying to calm his temper. Then he turned back to his son. “Get up. We’re going.” His voice was cold and hard. “Get up before you disappoint me further.”
    Spencer felt a pang of hurt strike his heart. His dad was acting, right? Did Alan have to say it with such conviction? Spencer rose onto numb feet.
    “Mr. Zumbro,” said the principal, “your son needs to return to the cafeteria and help his classmates with the cleanup.”
    “No,” Alan said, “he needs to go home where I can teach him a lesson. Believe me, he’s about to spend a lot of time with cleaning supplies.” Alan took his son firmly by the elbow and nodded to the principal. “Good day.”
    He dragged Spencer out of the office, past the entryway, and through the school’s front doors. As soon as Spencer felt the cold air on his face, Alan let go.
    “Haha!” his dad laughed. “I think we sold it! Was I convincing enough?”
    Spencer was speed-walking ahead, upset with himself for not feeling more joy at his dad’s sudden arrival.
    “Whoa, slow down!” Alan said. “We’re free.”
    “Let’s