The man checked his watch. “You’re early.”
Alice shrugged. “We’re overachievers.” She gave a gesture for him to open the gate.
“You have your registration papers?”
Spencer felt a twinge of nervousness as his mom passed the applications through the window. How good was Walter’s Glopified ink remover? Would the man know that the official Academy signatures had been forged?
The man disappeared into the booth for a moment. He returned with a furrowed look. “We don’t seem to have your information on file.”
“We were a bit late with the registration,” Alice bluffed. She handed the man the envelope of money that Penny had given her. “But they said there wouldn’t be a problem. They said as long as we had the applications signed, that we’d get in.”
Alice was starting to get upset. Spencer had never considered his mother much of an actress, but she was doing a decent job at it.
The man nodded apologetically. “I’m going to call down the program director. If there’s a problem, we’ll fix it.” He smiled congenially. “If you’d like to park over there, ma’am.” He pointed across the parking lot. “For the safety of the students, only authorized vehicles are admitted into New Forest Academy.”
Alice threw the car in reverse and spun around. There were several cars in the parking lot, but Alice found a spot near a maintenance shed and a couple of dumpsters.
“If they’re not going to let our car in,” Spencer said, “how are we supposed to get our Glopified stuff into the Academy? Won’t it look kind of suspicious if we go walking in with janitorial supplies?”
“It’s just cleaning stuff,” Dez said incredulously. “It’s not like we’re trying to smuggle guns and knives.”
Their attention returned to the brick wall as the gate swung open mechanically. A black car idled in the gateway, the driver conversing with the man in the booth. After a moment, the gatekeeper pointed toward the Zumbro SUV.
“I don’t want to risk it,” Daisy whispered, as if the black car were close enough to hear. “I mean, what if they examined our stuff and took it away?”
“We have to try,” said Spencer. “We can’t just send the supplies home with my mom.” The Academy car pulled away from the gate booth.
“How about this,” Alice said. “I’ll leave the stuff behind these dumpsters. You can come out and get it later, when the coast is clear.”
“What if someone finds it before we get back?” Spencer asked.
“I’ll hide it under a bush.”
“What about squirrels?” Daisy said. Everyone turned to her with puzzled expressions. Daisy shrugged. “Well, we are in the mountains. What if squirrels steal our stuff?”
Spencer shook his head. “Why would squirrels steal cleaning supplies? You think they mop and vacuum?”
The black car came to a stop behind the SUV. A Latino man with dark hair and sunglasses stepped out. He was well dressed, with a striped collared shirt and a sport coat.
The man waited with a broad white smile as the three kids gathered their backpacks and luggage from the SUV. A moment later, all of them were standing in the parking lot, the cold mountain air nipping their faces. The man from the black car extended a handshake to Alice.
“Welcome to New Forest Academy! My name is Carlos Garcia.” His voice carried the hint of a Spanish accent. Spencer recognized the name. It was one of the signatures he’d forged with the ink remover.
“Alice Zumbro,” she said. “This is my son Spencer and his friends Daisy and Dez.”
Garcia shook each of their hands, his expression warm and friendly. “My apologies about the confusion at the gate. Not sure why your information wasn’t on file. I remember signing your applications.”
Spencer glanced at Daisy, hopeful that she wouldn’t say anything. The ink remover was amazing stuff. Just as Walter had explained, the Glopified solution had created a duplicate memory, making Carlos Garcia think that he remembered signing the applications.
Garcia went on. “As the director of New Forest Academy, I hope you will have an enjoyable week with us. This recruitment program is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn what our school is all about. At the same time, we can evaluate your performance and decide if we want you to study with us as a regular, full-time student.”
Dez groaned. “I liked everything until the part when you said study.”
“Studying doesn’t have to be boring. I hope we can help you learn to love it.” Director Garcia smiled again, a warm gesture. “Let’s head in, if you have everything.” He nodded to Alice. “A pleasure meeting you. Your children are in good hands here.”
“I see that,” Alice said. She pulled Spencer into a half hug. “You’ll call me tonight?” she asked.
Spencer glanced questioningly at Director Garcia. Did they even have phone service here in the mountains?
“Of course,” Garcia said. “It is our policy to have each of the recruits call home on the first evening.”
Max shouted something from inside the SUV, still strapped into the confines of his car seat. Alice took a hesitant step back toward the vehicle. “Better get going,” she said. Then, turning to Spencer, she gave her son some very clear instructions. “Be safe.”
Chapter 16
“Just come this way.”
The campus of New Forest Academy was much nicer and more modern than Spencer had expected. Driving through the gate was like discovering an oasis of civilization in the mountains. On the other side of the brick wall, the landscape provided an enormous open area, dotted with buildings and playgrounds.
The brick wall ringed in the front half of the campus, while the natural incline of the forested mountain closed in the back half. It was like the school grounds were nestled into a pocket in the mountain. It certainly felt safe, all boxed in.
“How did you find this place?” Spencer asked.
Director Garcia grinned. “It didn’t always look like this. We made some major modifications before building the school. Dynamite blasting, excavation, more blasting ... this campus is many years in the making. And we’re still doing alterations.” He pointed out the window. “Can you guess what we’re putting in over there?”
Spencer looked across the campus and saw a backhoe and a crane near the trees. He could just glimpse a large area roped off with yellow caution tape.
“A swimming pool?” Daisy guessed.
“No,” said Dez. “It’s a giant Porta-Potty!”
“Nothing like that,” Garcia said. “We’re putting in an underground parking garage. We should be finished with construction in a week or two.”
“Why did you choose to build the school here?” Spencer asked. “Why not down in the city?”
“There’s something enchanting about going into the mountains to learn,” Director Garcia said. “Our students are far from distractions and the corruption of civilization. It’s safe and remote. Research has found such environments to foster the greatest learning.”
“Sounds like a snooze,” Dez muttered. “I should have brought my pillow.”
Spencer elbowed Dez in the ribs. They were supposed to act like ordinary students. Dez’s attitude was going to blow their cover.
Director Garcia didn’t seem to notice Dez’s commentary. There was a stirring energy about the man, the way he talked about the Academy, the way he gazed proudly out the car window. Director Garcia’s enthusiasm was contagious, and Spencer felt a twinge of excitement in his stomach.
“Does this place even have electricity?” said Dez. “Or do we have to use those weird plug-in lights?”
“New Forest Academy sports an eco-friendly campus. We’re equipped with the finest facilities and state-of-the-art technology. And everything is solar powered,” answered Garcia. “Only the best of the best for our students.”
The director stopped the car at a crosswalk as a group of uniformed students headed from one building to another. The students looked clean and sharp. Despite the strict uniform, t
hey found ways to express themselves. The boys had stylish haircuts; the girls were covered in expensive-looking jewelry. They carried themselves with an air of self-importance that bordered on arrogance.
“So, parents have to drive clear up here to drop off their kids every day?” Spencer asked.
“Many do,” Garcia said. “We draw largely from families in the Denver area. No more than an hour drive to get here. Many parents strongly believe that public schools are failing to educate their children. They believe, as I do, that New Forest Academy is the solution. They’re willing to make the commute so their kids can get a proper education.”
The car rolled forward again. “For the older kids, we have a boarding program. Grades five through nine can actually live on campus in our comfortable dormitories.”
“I can’t think of anything worse than living at school,” Dez said.
“What about getting paper cuts on your eyeballs?” said Daisy. “That would be worse, don’t you think?”
“Since you’re a few hours early,” Garcia said, pulling the car into a small parking lot, “I’m going to drop you kids at the computer lab. You can keep yourselves entertained until the recruitment dinner.”
“Yeah!” Dez said. “I love computer games!” He put an imaginary bazooka on his shoulder and started making explosion sounds, bits of spit flecking from his mouth. “Do you have Slaughterguts 900?”
Director Garcia turned a disapproving glare on Dez. The bully, unaffected by such stares, threw an imaginary grenade as he strode past Spencer and Daisy.
Garcia led the three kids into the warm building. Spencer peered into the first classroom and saw rows of tables with top-of-the-line flat screen computers. Academy students sat attentively at each monitor. Spencer had never seen such a well-behaved class. It was the extreme opposite of his class in the Welcher Elementary library last Friday.
“Let’s make sure they have room for three more,” said Garcia. He slipped into the computer lab to talk to the media specialist, leaving Spencer, Daisy, and Dez alone in the hallway.
“So,” Dez said, “when are we going back for the stuff your mom hid in the bushes?”
Spencer and Daisy hushed him simultaneously, glancing around to make sure they were really alone. “We’ll talk about it later,” Spencer whispered.
“I just want to make sure I don’t get left behind.” Dez folded his big arms.
Spencer yawned, his mouth stretching wide and his eyes squinting closed. He had a right to be tired, after getting up so early to escape Hillside Estates. But as Spencer shook his head to clear out the sleepiness, he saw Daisy pointing down the hallway and he knew that this sudden twinge of fatigue was not natural.
A Filth had rounded the corner, scurrying like an overgrown rat. Dusty quills shook as it limped sideways. The creature slammed into the wall, righted itself, and kept running toward them.
“What are you looking at?” Dez squinted in the same direction as his peers.
“It’s injured,” Spencer whispered.
“What?” said Dez. “What’s injured? Your brain?”
“I thought Walter said there weren’t Toxites here!” Daisy said.
“No,” Spencer corrected. “He said that Roger Munroe was supposed to have killed them all off.”
As if in response to this comment, a wiry man leapt around the corner at the end of the hallway. From his left hand came a well-aimed funnel throw of vacuum dust. A suction sound ripped down the hallway and the Filth collapsed. The little monster quivered on the floor as a mop from the man’s other hand stretched out to crush the Toxite.
The kids stood in surprised silence, watching the mop strings retract from the spot where the Filth had been destroyed. “Let me guess.” Dez tapped Daisy on the arm. “He just killed a ... thingy.”
“Toxite,” Daisy corrected.
The thin man approached the kids, walking cautiously along the wall of the hallway. He had oily black hair that came to a sharp widow’s peak but slicked straight back from his broad forehead to form a straggly mullet. His skin was pale and pocked from old acne. A pair of thick glasses, desperately needing to be washed, sat heavily on his large hooked nose.
Spencer waited for some kind of greeting from the janitor. When it didn’t come, he looked at the man’s face for any sign of recognition. But the beady black eyes behind the dirty glasses just shifted back and forth nervously.
“Roger!” Spencer finally said. It had to be him. This was New Forest Academy’s Rebel Janitor that Walter had told them to contact.
“Where are you kids supposed to be?” the janitor said, pointing an accusatory mop handle at them. His voice carried a slight country drawl, but it wasn’t friendly like Daisy’s dad. This man’s voice was too crackly, almost like a raven’s caw.
“It’s okay,” Spencer said. “Walter told us to find you. Roger Munroe?”
The janitor’s entire expression changed. His eyes flicked down the hallway. The man swallowed, his sharp Adam’s apple sliding along his throat. “Why don’t you kids come with me?”
Spencer stepped forward, but Daisy grabbed his sleeve. “Shouldn’t we wait for Director Garcia?” She glanced at the computer lab. “He’ll wonder where we’ve gone.”
“It don’t matter,” the janitor said. “Just come this way. We need to talk.”
The door to the computer lab suddenly opened and Director Garcia reappeared, looking surprised to see the Academy janitor in the hallway. “Hello, Mr. Fletcher.”
“Mr. Fletcher?” Spencer muttered.
The janitor wiped his nose with the back of his hand. His lips were quivering as though he wanted to say something but didn’t dare. Instead, he nodded respectfully to his boss.
“Are you the janitor here?” Spencer tried to ask with tact, but Daisy cut him off bluntly.
“Where’s Roger Munroe?” she asked.
“You know Munroe?” Garcia raised his eyebrows.
“Uh ...” Spencer swallowed. “Yeah. Roger is Daisy’s uncle.”
Daisy’s mouth fell open in surprise. “He is?”
Spencer nodded unconvincingly. “Remember? Second uncle, once removed.”
“Removed from what?” Daisy said.
“Removed from New Forest Academy,” answered the wiry janitor, swinging the mop over his shoulder. “Munroe quit.”
“Quit?” Spencer’s legs felt suddenly weak.
“Last Friday,” Director Garcia said. “Mr. Munroe resigned suddenly. Fortunately, Mr. Fletcher was able to step in quickly to this new position. He’s our computer technician, but he’s had some cleaning experience and was willing to fill in as our custodian.”
“Please,” said the janitor, wiping a hand across his greasy black hair. “Call me Slick.”
Spencer and Daisy looked at one another, trying not to let their shock betray them. Slick wasn’t just an average temporary custodian. He was a janitor! Slick had seen that Toxite and executed it with precision and skill.
“I thought we were gonna play some computer games.” Dez broke the silence.
Director Garcia nodded. “There’s a computer ready for each of you.” He gestured for them to enter the lab. “I’ll drop your bags at the dormitories, and someone will come get you when it’s time for the recruitment dinner.”
Dez pushed into the lab and Daisy followed close behind. Spencer stood rooted in place as Slick turned away from the computer lab and sauntered down the hallway, his mop strings still dangling over his thin shoulder.
It didn’t seem right. Roger Munroe was gone, having suspiciously resigned only three days ago. Now Slick had taken over as New Forest Academy’s janitor. Spencer knew nothing about Slick, but the whole situation seemed unsettling.
“Is everything all right?” Director Garcia’s voice startled Spencer. The boy nodded, pasting on a false smile. But everything was not all right.
Chapter 17
“Did you get strangled too?”
Spencer dragged his last slice of steak through a da
b of A1 sauce and popped it into his mouth. It was the best cafeteria food Spencer had ever tasted, and the Academy claimed it was organic and healthy, too.
It was a welcome dinner for the students who had arrived for the recruitment program. They totaled fifty kids, ranging from fourth grade to seventh. Lots of them picked at their dinner hesitantly, faces creased with nerves for the week to come.
Daisy was leaning back in her chair, studying the other students while Dez picked over his sautéed green beans. It was an added measure of comfort to be surrounded by two friends. Well, one friend and one nuisance.
Director Carlos Garcia suddenly stood up and clapped his hands for attention. A few conversations had broken out among the recruits, but they ended instantly.
“Welcome to New Forest Academy!” He opened his arms in a warm gesture. “You’re all here because you have an interest in attending this great school.”
“Not all of us,” Dez muttered under his breath.
“New Forest Academy is in its sixth year and growing rapidly. Our mission is to provide a successful education to any student who qualifies.
“At the end of this week, some of you—and I hope it will be many—will receive an invitation to attend New Forest Academy. That invitation has the power to change your future. But such an invitation must be earned. This week will be challenging. We plan to test you in every way: academically, socially, mentally, physically.”
Spencer noticed that Daisy had a plastic spoon to her mouth, chewing nervously on the end. She saw him staring and whispered, “What if I don’t pass?”
“It’s okay, Daisy,” Spencer said. Her spoon suddenly snapped between her teeth. Spencer ducked as a piece of it went shooting over his head. “We’re not here to get accepted, remember?” Daisy set down the broken spoon and nodded, relieved by Spencer’s reminder.
“The first thing you must do is divide into teams,” Director Garcia explained. “There are fifty handkerchiefs on the table in the back of the cafeteria.” He pointed, and all the students turned to look. “There are five different colors, so, five different teams. When I clap my hands, you have exactly three minutes to get the color you want and group yourselves into color-coordinating teams.”
Janitors: Secrets of New Forest Academy Page 8