Ada was at the end of her week of detention. Nina got only two days, and she had already served it. It only seemed fair, since it was all Ada’s idea and Ada’s plan.
Milton met Ada outside of detention on the last day.
“I still can’t believe you did a heist without me,” said Milton.
“I did it because of you, Milton,” said Ada. “And it turns out I was wrong—and bad at it. Why didn’t you just tell me you put in that cool electric rail?”
“You were acting so nuts, I was kind of curious to see what you’d do,” said Milton.
“Milton!” said Ada.
“I’m sorry!” said Milton. “I didn’t think you’d take it so far. It’s impressive! Anyway, I know you’re in trouble now, but other than that, was it cool?”
“Oh, Milton. I’m a total amateur. So many mistakes were made!”
“Well, maybe you just need some practice,” said Milton.
“I don’t think so. I’m through getting in trouble,” said Ada. “If there were someplace I had total permission to break in, complete a mission, and escape, I would do it. But that doesn’t seem likely.”
“Oh, Ada,” said Milton. “I think you’re onto something.”
• • •
The next month Milton, Ada, and Nina, with Mr. Peebles’s help, created a game idea called Heist Room for the auditorium of the school. Heist teams were composed of no more than six participants and no fewer than three. Each team paid an entrance fee and could choose five tools to complete their mission. The proceeds would help purchase new microscopes for the school.
Inside the gym was a temporary mini building that Mr. Peebles, Mr. Bezzle, and a few other parent volunteers built. The teams were given a mission to break into the room, which was composed of smaller chambers, find the appropriate documents, and leave within fifteen minutes. The team with the fastest time won gift certificates to Moonberry frozen yogurt. Milton, Ada, and Nina had helped out a little with the planning, but they made sure that they didn’t see any of the locks or interior chambers, so that they could participate.
Nina opted out of being Ada and Milton’s third team member.
“I think I’ll work with someone else for a change,” she said.
Instead, Nina joined Elliott and his friend Jack.
“Wow,” said Ada. “That’s so nice of you!”
Then Milton said what Ada was thinking, “Too bad you’re not going to win!”
“We’ll see, Edison, we’ll see,” said Nina.
Ada and Milton let Mr. Lace be their third member.
Mr. Lace was the timekeeper, since Ada and Milton had more experience with locks. They got into the building fairly easily, but were surprised by how complicated it was to enter some of the chambers inside. In fact, as they cleared each chamber, there were progressively more locks to crack on the next one. Some of them were opened by solving a puzzle or solving a riddle, and the final chamber had a security system. Still, they were making good time, and as the most experienced team they were confident of victory.