Extraordinary Losers 2 by Jessica Alejandro Read Free Book Online

most powerful among us, but he was the one that needed the most protection.
    â€œDon’t worry, Clan,” I said. “Our lips are sealed. Right, Janice?” I turned to her because she was the spiller of beans.
    â€œYup.” She zipped her mouth.
    â€œYes, your secret is safe,” Mundi promised.
    Clandestino bowed his head low and looked up at us again. “You know what? I have a feeling the teachers and the police are going to investigate this on Monday. I am one of their prime suspects. We have to find more evidence to lead us to the real culprit before Sunday. If not, I might end up in Juvenile Prison.”

CHAPTER 6: CRIMESCENE DETECTIVES
    Here! Quick!” Clandestino urged. “Before anyone sees us!”
    â€œThis is not right… This is not right…” Mundi murmured nervously.
    It was 8.10pm on a Saturday night. The school stood eerily on its premises. The air felt heavy in the aftermath of the fire and the ground was strangely warm. Clandestino was hauling each one of us over the school gate. He was the tallest and only his flexible hands could weave in and out of the metal grilles.
    Of course, when it came to Janice, things got a little tricky. She was a girl, she was rather heavy, she was wearing a skirt and … (well you get the idea).
    Mundi rushed to grab a stool from the canteen and threw it over. “Here! Step on this and try to climb over yourself.”
    â€œI can’t!” Janice whined.
    â€œGo on. Try, Janice!” I said. “You can do it.”
    Janice pulled up her skirt and balanced precariously on the weak plastic stool. She was tipping left, right, left, right, right, right, right, right… and just when the stool abandoned her pointed feet, two hands grabbed her from the top of the gate. It was Clandestino. He was standing on me. Mundi was grabbing onto his feet to make sure he wouldn’t fall.
    â€œAre we done yet?” I groaned. “My shoulders are burning!”
    â€œHere you go, Janice,” Clandestino said. “See if you can do it.” Clandestino helped Janice crossover carefully. Then he leapt off my shoulder and landed perfectly like an athlete would.
    â€œGee, thanks, Clan!” A sheepish grin was plastered over Janice’s face.
    It was nearly 8.30pm. As we tiptoed towards class 3A where the fire had been, I thought I heard some footsteps. I stopped in my tracks and the others stopped too.
    â€œYou know what? I hear some footsteps,” I whispered. “And it’s coming from the direction of the burnt 3A classroom.”
    â€œAre you positively sure, Darryl?” Mundi checked.
    â€œYes!”
    We looked at one another and held our breaths for a good 20 seconds.
    â€œWait… they are gone now,” I said.
    â€œIt must be your imagination. There’s no one here. The gate is locked,” Janice added.
    â€œYeah, you’re right. Let’s walk slowly. In case I hear them again,” I said.
    Everyone took my advice and we tiptoed so carefully no one would have known we were there. When we arrived at class 3A, we scanned the sight before us. The flames had been doused and a red tape cordoned off the classroom where the fire had raged. Clandestino used his iPhone as a flashlight, illuminating the scene.
    Soot was everywhere – on the walls, ceilings, cupboards, desks and even in the air. Everything was blackened and the paint on the ceiling peeled in huge sheets. All was black. Ash was everywhere and we made ghastly shoeprints with our feet.
    â€œThe amount of ash, enough to bury someone,” said Janice.
    â€œThat’s what happens when there are too many worksheets stacked up in class,” I added.
    â€œMajor fire hazard,” Clandestino chimed in. “Major.”
    â€œBe careful, no?” Mundi warned. “Don’t touch anything that might incriminate us.”
    The fire had been put out but I could still hear the fire crackling. Little orange