2

XXX

Meanwhile, Magda and I entered the school. We went straight to Mr. Wiesiek.

"Good evening," we said.

"Oh, hello, girls. But I don't think you have Polish classes today?" Mr. Wiesiek asked, surprised.

"That's right, we have another matter.

" "Namely..."

"Namely, we wanted you to let us into the computer lab for a moment. We need to see a few things," I said immediately. I didn't want to beat around the bush. I also knew that if we convinced him well enough, he'd let us in.

"That's out of the question. I can't let anyone in.

" "But no one will find out; it will only take about ten minutes.

" "But why do you want to get in there?" the surprised host finally asked. "

We want to look for clues." We know the police have already been looking around, but nothing will happen if we take a look too.

"Well, I don't know, if anyone saw you...

" "Yes, but Mr. Wiesek, it'll only be a moment, no one's at school.

" "Okay, but you'll owe me a favor.

" "What?

" "I don't know yet, maybe I'll need something someday."

"Okay, agreed, but first you have to answer a few questions."

"Okay, come in." The host let them into his room.

"How did the burglars get in?" I began immediately.

"I don't know, this is the only door; it's only open until 8 or 9 p.m., no longer.

" "Didn't you forget to lock it?"

"Certainly not, and even if they did, I would have seen them if they had walked past me here." He pointed to the hallway where Magda and I had just been standing. "Although there's something else..."

"Yes? What's the matter?"

"Something I haven't told the police."

"Please tell me."

"I simply fell asleep yesterday, it's the first time it's really happened to me. I was afraid that if I told the police, they'd kick me out of school. I've been working here for so many years...

" "Well, the burglars must have been exceptionally lucky, something stinks here...

" "Maybe my raspberry tea..."

"I'm not talking about why you fell asleep the first time and that's when the burglars broke into the school?"

"Honestly, I don't know, it's never happened before, I always watch TV"—he pointed at his small TV—"or read a book."

"There's no sign of a break-in on the door; it looks like they had a key."

"Only I and the principal have keys."

"Strange, but what did the police ask about?"

"The two policemen asked me just a few questions – had anything unusual happened before that night, and did I have any idea who might have broken in?

" "Strange, exactly. Did anything unusual happen?"

"No, the day went by as usual."

"Okay, so can we get into the computer lab for a moment?"

"But the girls didn't say a word to anyone."

"Okay, we'll be as silent as the grave."

A moment later, we were standing in front of the computer lab, and Mr. Wiesiek was opening the door for us. I was very excited, but Magda still had the feeling someone would see us.

After opening the door, we all went inside, and the teacher locked the door.

"Let's search quickly," Magda said.

"Take a look at all the computers, and I'll get to the main computer." I headed for the device on the teacher's desk.

A moment later, after carefully examining the computer, I found a red hair stuck to the keyboard.

"I think the police didn't search thoroughly. From what I know, Mr. Opiński"—I mentioned the computer science teacher's name—"has gray hair. No teacher has red hair either. I don't like it," I said, placing the hair in a small plastic bag. "Let's keep looking, maybe we'll find something else."

Suddenly, we all heard a door being unlocked.

"Quick, under the desk," I said quietly, and we both ducked under the teacher's desk.

Mr. Wiesiek, at the last moment before the door opened, managed to grab a broom and start pretending to sweep the floor.

"Mr. Wiesiek, what are you doing here?" asked the indignant principal, who had just entered the classroom.

"I'm sweeping. Mr. Opiński asked me to do it.

" "And who's guarding the school entrance now?"

"Relax, it's only ten minutes, I've locked the school," Mr. Wiesiek explained.

"Please go back to the reception desk. Did you come here yesterday too, when they broke into the classroom?" the director pestered.

"No, I spent the whole night at the reception desk."

"At least that's good, go away, the cleaners are there to sweep."

"And you?" he said as he left.

"I'm leaving too, I just came for the diskette I left." He headed for the main computer.

Magda and I felt our hearts leap into our throats. The director reached for the computer and pulled out the diskette. His foot was right next to Magda's hand.

"And that's it, we're leaving, Mr. Wiesiek," he said, heading back to the door.

They both left, locked the door, and left.

Magda and I emerged from under the desk.

"Good, now we're locked in," Magda commented.

"Relax, Mr. Wiesiek will be back soon," I replied with much more calm.

"How do you know?"

"Well, he won't leave us like that. Keep looking."

A moment later, the door opened again, and Magda and I jumped under the teacher's desk again.

"Fish to the aquarium, this is a whale," Mr. Wiesiek said.

Magda and I emerged from under the desk.

"Quick, we're out of here," Magda said.

"Good code, Mr. Wiesiek," I commented.

"It's readable. Unfortunately, the principal is still at school, in his office, so we have to leave secretly.

Fortunately, everything has worked out for us now. We calmly went downstairs, thanked Mr. Wiesiek for his help, and left the school as quickly as possible. "

It's almost 11:00 PM," Magda said when we were halfway there. "

We're late. But that's okay, the important thing is we have some clue."

"Are you talking about that hair?"

"Yes, I'll give it to Mom; she has access to the lab."

"And what do you say, it's the burglar's hair?"

"Come on, I'll say it's for a biology experiment. That's a bummer; I'm wondering what's going on with the police."

"I don't understand."

"Something's wrong. They only asked Mr. Wiesiek a few questions and didn't thoroughly search the burglary scene. Hmm... I have an idea.

I knew this case would interest me. Now I simply couldn't tear myself away from it.

XXX

I returned home. I rarely went out at this hour, and when I did, my mother never held it against me. I had a wonderful mother, and I was happy about that.

"Mom," I said to her in the kitchen, taking out a small plastic bag. "Will you check this for me at work?

" "What is this?

" "Speaking of that biology experiment. It's a friend's hair. And get the results; then we'll get a better grade."

"Okay, but you can only determine DNA from that hair, not a person's full name."

"Relax, Mom, that's exactly what I mean."

"Okay, but go to bed. It's late."

"Okay, thanks."

I headed for my room. Before going to bed, I made one more call.

"Hello. Uncle Marek?" I said.

"Oh, hi, Ania. " "

How are you doing?

" "Oh, everything's alright. And how's school?"

"Okay, I'm not complaining. Listen, Uncle, I have a case. Does that detective still work for you?

" "Yes, did something happen?"

"I'm talking about the police report from a certain case. Could you photocopy it for me? I'd be very grateful."

"Okay, that's no problem. And what about the other case you've snooped on?

" "Something like that."

"Okay, so what case is it?"

I briefly explained to my uncle.

"Okay, maybe I can make it tomorrow. See you. Goodnight."

"Goodnight.

XXX

Math was the biggest pain for me and my class. "

We're taking out our papers," the teacher announced at the very beginning of class.

Groans and dissatisfaction could be heard throughout the class.

"Please, let's write down the questions."

A moment later, the class began writing. Magda and I looked at each other and involuntarily smiled, noticing the completely blank sheets of paper.

"I can't do anything," I said quietly to Magda.

"Me neither." Magda couldn't hide her satisfaction.

We both looked around the classroom. The teacher was looking out the window; some were cheating, others were silent, only Paulina—the class nerd—sat right in front of me and Magda, furiously writing a quiz.

"Pull the paper a little to the side," I whispered.

The girl shifted, and the paper with the solution became visible to me. This was my only chance. Maybe it would work out, after all, I knew absolutely nothing about math. Especially when yesterday, instead of studying, I'd been conducting an "investigation."

I began carefully copying the work, of course, glancing at the teacher every now and then.

After ten minutes, Kowalski collected the quizzes.

"Well, we managed to screw around a bit," Magda commented quietly.

The class was silent as the teacher reviewed the papers. Suddenly, he spoke up:

"Kiempińska, I see that math has finally found its way into your daily routine...

" "Yes, Professor," I said, standing up. "Math has always been important to me."

"Ha ha, strange, you did the entire first assignment. On rational functions. After all, that was the bottom of your math hole," the teacher nagged.

"Yes, I did the entire assignment, Professor."

"So you probably did the homework without the slightest problem too?"

"You could say that," I said in a whisper.

"Excuse me? "

"I did," I ventured. "

In that case, please come to the board with your notebook. Yours," he added, as if to explain.

I slowly approached the board. The classroom was completely silent.

"Well, please do it."

I started working on the problem, but I couldn't seem to get it to work. Finally, after a few minutes, the teacher stood up and approached me. He grabbed my notebook and saw it.

"Well, it's empty. You could have said it right away, but..." He took my notebook and sat down at his desk. "

FAIL for missing homework. Second F for classwork," the mathematician said.

"What do you mean? For classwork?" I rebelled.

"Well, you did the problem for a few minutes and got... a complete zero. You're not a mathematician.

" "May I sit down, Professor?" I asked, irritated.

"Are you in such a hurry? Wait a minute. And a third F..."

This response brought grim faces and head-scratching from the students.

"For the quiz. Do you think I'm that stupid? You copied from your notebook or from Miss Paulina!"

The teacher wrote down all the grades in the gradebook, and then in my notebook.

"Tomorrow, Kiempińska, with your mother's signature. Sit down."

I slowly walked to my seat. Jesus, how I hated him. The worst teacher in the history of the school. I'd love to take revenge on him.

"Lesson topic...

XXX"

"Don't worry, your mom will understand," Magda consoled me. "

But I'm not worried, Kowalski is like that. He's just mad at me, that's all. He's never given anyone an A. Even if I hadn't copied from Paulina, he would have thought of something anyway," I rambled on. I was still furious. "

You're right, actually .

" "You'd better go to Opiński's," I suggested.

"Why?" Magda asked. "So

what? I need to ask him a few questions about the break-in.

" "Okay, fine."

We both went to the computer room. We knocked, and when we heard "come in," we entered. "

Good morning, professor," we said.

"Hi, what's going on?" the teacher asked, looking through various files.

"It's about the break-in."

"The computer room will be open from tomorrow.

" "It's not about that. Do we know what the main computer was hacked for?" Magda asked.

"I don't know, it's all in the hands of the police. I'm not getting involved, and neither should you. But wait, how do you know the main computer was hacked?

" "Because..." Magda said.

"Because, of course, it's the main computer. After all, it has a lot of important things on it, and there's nothing special on regular computers," I said, saving the day. "

Maybe it's true. I don't know anything. I advise you to leave this matter alone, too.

" "Okay, thank you." We left.

XXX

Magda and I were walking home from school.

"Do you think he really didn't know anything about the purpose of breaking into the computer lab?" Magda asked. "

I don't think so. Why would I tell us? So the whole school would find out? "

"We wouldn't tell anyone."

"I know that, but Mr. Opiński wasn't absolutely certain. But don't worry, we'll find out the purpose of the break-in today.

" "Where exactly?"

"I'll get a copy of the police report tonight.

" XXX

I was sitting at home, waiting for a call from Uncle Marek. Finally, the dial tone rang.

"Hello," I answered.

"Hi, it's Piotrek.

" "Ah... it's you... hello."

"Listen, I'm calling because I've chosen a place where we can meet on Saturday.

" "That's good. Listen, Piotrek, I'm waiting for an important call."

"Okay, let's just plan it. What time should I pick you up?"

"Piotrek, no need. I'll find it myself. Just tell me where."

"Be at the theater—the one next to the opera. Let's say, at 5 p.m..

" "Okay, see you."

"For now."

Piotrek hung up, not hiding his pride. "On Saturday at 5 p.m., I'll prove I love her. I'll apologize again for everything. Not only will we meet, but I'll also give up the drugs." Suddenly the phone rang.

"Hey, it's Przemek.

" "Hi." "

Listen, in a few days, these guys want to make an appointment. We have to give them the money and take more plots."

"Przemo, I told you already. I'm not interested. Seriously. Give them my plot and tell them I won't sell anymore."

"Piotrek, they won't leave you alone. You know..." "

I'll manage."

"If you want, if anything, we'll meet at..."

"Przemo," Piotrek interrupted. "For now.

" "Bye."

Piotrek knew he wouldn't get away with these dealers that easily, but he promised me and he wanted to keep his word. He's done with drugs, and this time he has to succeed.

XXX

Meanwhile, I finally got a call from Uncle Marek. I went to him, got a photocopy of the police report, and read the document. Now I was going to share it with Magda.

We were both on our way to school.

"Listen, these police officers suck," I started to say.

"Why do you think that?" "

I'll summarize the police report for you. They write that someone broke into the computer lab for some unknown reason. There are no traces. That's impossible. "

"Maybe they really don't know anything?"

"Magda, don't be naive. They could have found even that hair. Besides, the way they talked to Mr. Wiesek earlier speaks for itself.

"They could get fired.

" "I'd be more worried about the reason these officers acted like that."

"What do you mean?

" "Then why are they so imprecise?" And I even have an idea. But we have to ask someone for help again.

"Who?"

"Alex and Tomek. They're great computer geeks. We'll ask them to find as much information as possible about these policemen."

Soon after, during one of our breaks, Magda and I stopped our friends in the hallway.

"Aleks, Tomek, we have a big favor to ask.

" "What is it? "

"We need you to find something for us on the computer.

" "Okay, what is it?"

"We'd have to meet; it's confidential.

" "Okay, but it's nothing illegal?"

"No, no way."

"Okay, then come over to my place around 4 p.m.," Aleks suggested.

"Okay, cool, see you. Thanks a lot.