The Great Greene Heist: List 3

Sure, he had served as an unofficial technical advisor from time to time—nothing major, just trivial input on things like how to anonymously sell livestock on eBay or remotely log in to the school server.

There was nothing better than riling up one of the Chess Team guys.

Jackson sized up Victor Cho—the fancy watch too big for his wrist, the designer glasses like all the other rich kids at school, the grating voice that squeaked more than boomed.

Jackson sized up Victor Cho—the fancy watch too big for his wrist, the designer glasses like all the other rich kids at school, the grating voice that squeaked more than boomed.

Charlie leaned forward. “The Chess Team gets its funding from Student Council. So does the Tech Club. And the Art Geeks. And every other organization. So if Keith Sinclair becomes president, he doesn’t just control Student Council. He will essentially control every non-sport student activity.”

Jackson could see the doubt etched on the boys’ faces.

“I guess you can say he cheats, but that depends on who you ask,” Hashemi said. “From Captain Kirk’s point of view, he wasn’t cheating. He just changed the parameters of the test.”

“Based on my calculations, the budget will cover new computers in the library, but it won’t subsidize the organic food station,” Gaby said.

The main office needed a student helper to ensure seamless communication between the students, faculty, and staff.

As the guidance office would later attest, Bradley was a model student. Dependable. Trustworthy.

“Did Victor balk at the price?"
“Of course.”

For the first time since Jackson laid out his plan, Charlie stopped to think about what they were about to do. Now that they were in the execution phase, things seemed a lot more real.

But now that she was actually in the stands, with the sun beating down on her and time seemingly standing still, she wished she had had the courage—or at least the common sense—to say no.

But on the weekend before the Fall Formal, her aunt had popped into town to surprise Gaby with an all-day spa visit and makeover. Gaby had resisted—she wasn’t girly like Tia Isabel—but she relented after seeing the hurt on her aunt’s face.

Charlie dropped the remote and feigned shock. “Who are you, and what did you do with my sister?”

They both stopped talking as Jackson ambled up the driveway, the ball nestled underneath his arm.

“So you’re scared?”
“Stop trying to goad me, Jackson Greene. It won’t work.”

It was like things used to be—before fancy shampoos and ill-advised kisses and lukewarm hugs.

She had barely been able to stay awake as she finished her homework, and just when she was about to slink off to the shower, Omar texted.

She hadn’t even realized she had fallen asleep until her alarm clock jarred her awake, her cell phone on the pillow beside her.

There was no way they were coming to join Gaby and Carmen—not with meat loaf on their trays. Carmen was a militant vegetarian.

“No one in their right mind would add more Sloanbook computers to the school. That company is notorious for—”
“I know,” Gaby said.

“I’ve already replaced the Sloanbooks with a different brand. Sloanbooks are less expensive, but the company has a horrible greenhouse emissions record.”

“We’ll blanket the school with posters. We’ll hand out flyers. We’ll even picket. I promise, we will do everything in our power to get you elected.”

Charlie leaned against the building and pulled at his hair as he watched Gaby storm across the quad toward him.

He had already been barred from playing video games for a week for taking bets on the parish’s volleyball team—allegedly.

“I’m sorry, Gaby. But you’re just too nice. If you’re going to win, you need someone on your side who, as Jackson puts it, is simultaneously irritating and relentless.”

Jackson retrieved the padlock from the shed door. “A bump key is a key with the teeth filed down to the lowest notch. It’s the quickest way to pick a lock.”

He pointed to the array of keys on the pegboard.

“So...In order to break into the room, you need to figure out what type of lock it is. But in order to figure out what type of lock it is, you have to break into the room..."
“A paradox,” Hashemi said, staring at the door.