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

just get to Bernard’s truck,” said Spencer. “Before I disappoint you further.”
    “You know I didn’t mean that stuff I said.” Alan jogged a few steps to catch up. “I’m proud of the work you did in there. You single-handedly rescued Walter.”
    For some reason, Spencer didn’t like the praise. “Daisy did most of it.” They walked the rest of the way in silence. Alan didn’t ask about the family, didn’t ask about life. It made Spencer feel a kind of festering resentment that lasted until he saw Walter Jamison standing in front of the garbage truck. The old warlock smiled warmly, and Spencer ran to him.
    “You all right?” Spencer said.
    “Better now, thanks to you and the Organization of Janitor Monitors.”
    Penny and Daisy climbed down from the cab of the truck. “The orange healing spray woke him right up,” Penny said. “We just finished unloading Uncle Walter’s van into the garbage truck. We stay together from here on out.”
    “What about the bronze nail and hammer?” Spencer asked. Walter always carried the hammer, and the nail had previously been inside his van.
    Walter held out his hand. The antique nail was safe in his palm. “Whoever captured me must not have recognized who I was. Ninfa never left my side.”
    He patted a cargo pocket on his pants where the bronze hammer was tucked away. It was the hammer and nail that gave Walter his warlock powers. Without them, there would be no way to Glopify new supplies.
    “Who did capture you?” Daisy asked. “Was it that temporary janitor lady?”
    “I’m sure it was,” said Walter. “Though I don’t remember.”
    “The janitor used green spray,” Penny said, touching a stain on her uncle’s shirt collar. “Green spray puts you to sleep and erases your recent memory of the person who sprayed you.”
    “How did they know you were coming?” Spencer asked.
    “The BEM always has ears on me,” said Walter. “Lately, they seem to be making a move on any school that I mention by name. It’s likely that I accidentally let Triton Charter slip, so they took out the Rebel Janitor and replaced him with that substitute BEM worker.”
    Bernard came around the side of the garbage truck. The garbologist stopped a foot away from Spencer and sniffed the air.
    “I’m guessing spaghetti and meatballs in a heavy marinara sauce,” Bernard said. He wiped a smudge off Spencer’s forehead. “You sure stink, kid.”
    “That means a lot coming from the garbage man,” Spencer said.
    “Hey.” Bernard held up his hands. “My nose doesn’t lie.”
    Alan Zumbro stepped into the center of the group. “Well,” he said, “we’re all here. But we shouldn’t stay much longer. That BEM janitor has probably already sent word. When last I checked, there were about a dozen Pluggers on my trail. We need to go somewhere safe before they find us again.” He paused and looked at each face. “We need to get the package open.”
    Bernard coughed nervously. “About the package . . .”
    “Who found it?” Walter cut in. “Which one of you?”
    “Actually,” Spencer said, “it was my mom. The package was at home all along.” He looked directly at Alan. “Funny you didn’t spend more time there, looking.” His dad’s eyes flicked away.
    “About the package . . .” Bernard tried again.
    “We should inspect it before opening,” Alan said. “Somewhere quiet, with a lot of light.”
    “I lost the package!” Bernard finally shouted. “At the bus depot.”
    “It wasn’t his fault,” Penny vouched. “Couple of Pluggers attacked us. The Extension Grime nearly killed Bernard.”
    Daisy nodded. “His head was cracked open. I could almost see his brains! Smelled like oranges.”
    “That was the healing spray,” Penny reminded.
    “Argh!” Bernard grunted. “It was my responsibility and it got away from me!”
    “By the time we realized it was missing,” Penny said, “the Pluggers were long gone.”
    “They didn’t make it far,” Alan