5:55 p.m.
Late September.
Watching Dexter had gotten me nowhere, but I knew something sinister was definitely goin’ down. So it was time to start following him.
Earlier that day, Millie tipped me off on some chatter she’d overheard about kids going with Dexter after dark. Real hush-hush stuff.
It was the opportunity I’d been waiting for.
The plan was simple – use Penny’s mobile phone as a tracking device to follow him.
Jordan and I would wait in our dorm while Noah and Penny would wait in the lobby. Once Dexter exited the lift for dinner, Penny would call us using the coffee shop phone – our signal to sneak into Dexter’s room and plant her phone in his backpack. Then we’d use the Phone Finder app on Penny’s laptop to track him.
Pretty brilliant, right?
It would’ve worked perfectly except dinner was almost over, and Dexter was still in his room.
I called the coffee shop from Penny’s cell.
‘Cool Beanz, how can I help you?’
‘Is Penny Plum there?’
‘Penny? No, sorry, bud, you got the wrong number.’
‘She’s one of your customers.’
‘You called to talk to a customer? This line is for business—’ The phone dropped. ‘Hey! Let go – get off the counter!’
There was muffled shouting, then Penny’s voice spoke loud and clear. ‘Heeeey.’
‘Where’s Dexter?’
‘I don’t know. He hasn’t come out of the lift yet.’
‘Is he just sitting in his dorm or something?’
‘Uh, I don’t know?’ She paused. ‘Oh … oh, wait. There he is! I see him! Uhhhh-oh. He’s getting into the lift. I think he was already at dinner!’
‘Yeeeeah,’ Penny said. ‘We must’ve missed him the first time. Bummer. You should go, ’kay? Bye!’
‘Flippin’ eggs!’ I said, ending the call.
With Dexter in the lift, we had only a minute to plant the phone.
It was go-time.
Jordan and I raced to Dexter’s dorm. Jordan beat me to the door so he could pick the lock, but the thing wasn’t even locked!
I pushed past Jordan to get into Dexter’s dorm.
The air was thick and wet and smelly. It was like getting punched in the face with a fart.
Jordan shut the door and kept watch through the peephole while I searched for the backpack.
‘Hurry up,’ Jordan said.
‘I can’t find it!’ I said, tearing through the wardrobe.
‘Check the bathroom!’
I pinched my nose and poked my head inside. ‘Why would he keep it in— Oh, there it is.’
Dexter’s backpack hung from the showerhead he probably never used.
Instead of schoolbooks, I found purple and yellow clothing rolled up inside. After putting Penny’s phone under the fabric, I went back to Jordan.
‘The phone’s planted. Let’s book!’ I said.
Jordan reached for the door handle, but it turned before he touched it.
Dexter was about to come in.
I panicked and latched the deadbolt.
‘Good thinking,’ Jordan whispered. ‘He’ll never suspect the door locking itself.’
‘Hey, who’s in there?’ Dexter shouted from outside. ‘Who’s in my room?’
Jordan and I were trapped.
There were only two ways out of that mess. Battle the troll at the door … or risk our lives out the window.
I think we made the right choice …
