The Further Adventures of Jack Lime by James Leck

leads?”
    â€œGive me the phone, Mr. Lime.”
    â€œI’m just trying to help somebody out,” I said, handing it over. “Besides, what kind of trouble could I get into while I’m locked up?”
    â€œStick to your schoolwork,” Snit said, putting a pile of worksheets on the desk. “Oh, and by the way, you’ve got someone to keep you company for the day.”
    That’s when things went from bad to worse.
    â€œI believe you already know Bucky King.”
    I’m not sure what my face looked like when Bucky stepped into that broom closet, but he was grinning from ear to ear.
    â€œNow, boys, I don’t want to hear a peep out of this room,” Snit said, “and this door stays open at all times.”
    â€œNot a peep,” Bucky said, brushing past me and taking the only seat in the house. The chair screeched helplessly under his weight.
    â€œI’ll get you another chair,” Snit said, and then he left us alone.
    â€œWhat are you in for, Bucky — stealing candy from babies again, or were you just ripping their teddy bears apart?”
    â€œI’ll be tearing somebody apart soon,” he said, jumping up and grabbing me by the collar.
    Before I had a chance to risk my life with a witty reply, Mr. Van Kramp stepped into our cell, pushing a cushy-looking leather chair on wheels.
    Van Kramp had replaced Ms. Priggs as the school secretary after she retired last year. He bicycled to work every day, coached the boys’ soccer team and was supposedly an expert mountain climber. He had blue eyes and straw-blond hair that always looked like it’d just been cut. He spoke with a British accent and had a habit of walking around in expensive-looking suits that made me wonder just how much a school secretary got paid. Since Van Kramp had arrived on campus, the girls at Iona High seemed to be spending a lot more time in the office.
    â€œI hate to interrupt,” he said, “but Mr. Snit asked me to bring you another chair.”
    â€œThanks,” Bucky said, letting me go and grabbing the chair from Van Kramp.
    â€œYou’re very welcome,” Van Kramp said, “and let’s keep the noise down, chaps. I have work to do.”
    â€œNot a peep,” Bucky said. Van Kramp smiled, flashing us his ridiculously white teeth, and left.
    Bucky dragged his comfortable new seat over to the desk, kicked the old one into the corner and laid his head down on the desk.
    â€œDon’t wake me up unless Snit’s on his way. Got it, Lime?”
    I figured the old chair Bucky had been using was about ready to fall to pieces, so I sat down on the ground and started hatching my escape plan. The good news was that there were only two things standing in my way. The bad news was that those two things were Mr. Snit and Mr. Van Kramp.
    Thursday, October 10, 9:28 a.m.
Iona High, My Cell
    Being in the detective game means I solve tricky problems for a living, so it didn’t take me long to figure out a way to bust out of this Popsicle stand. I just had to make sure the timing was right. I waited until first period was about to end and then rolled into action.
    â€œMr. Van Kramp,” I said, poking my head out the door, “I need to pee, and fast, or there’s going to be a big mess in here.”
    Van Kramp stopped typing and looked at me like I’d just done my business on his shoes. “Be quick about it,” he grumbled, and then went back to work.
    I ran out of the office and made my way to the main foyer. The bell rang just as I arrived, and kids started streaming out of their classes. I leaned against the far wall and waited for KC Stone to wander by. I didn’t have to wait long.
    â€œLet’s walk and talk,” I said, sliding up beside her.
    â€œWhat did Snit want?” KC asked.
    â€œMike the Bookie is dragging my name through the mud. He told Snit I swiped his diary and then forced him to pay a wad of dough to