Jack_ Secret Vengeance - F. Paul Wilson [39]
Toliver stopped before his locker and turned to the crowd. “Don’t you people have anything better to do?”
Almost as one the crowd roared “NO!” and then broke into laughter. Even Toliver laughed a little. Using the same flourish as with his combination yesterday, he produced the keys to the lock.
“Somehow some wiseass stole the combination to my last two locks, but that’s not gonna happen this time.” He waved the keys. “No combination, and I’ve got the only keys.”
But I have shims, Jack thought as the crowd cheered. He’d brought along the lock-pick kit last night, in case the shim failed, but hadn’t needed it.
Toliver added, “So whoever you are, up yours.”
Another cheer went up, then faded as he turned and inserted the key into the bottom of the lock. He gave it a twist, popped the shackle, and removed it from the latch.
Like a magician waving a prop, he turned and held up the lock, then he reached for the door handle.
Jack chewed the inside of his cheek. Now the moment of truth.
After watching Toliver and his friends leave earlier this morning, and waiting a few minutes to be sure they didn’t sneak back, he’d made his way to the locker with the marbles packed in a cardboard box. He’d set the box on the floor of the locker and tilted it forward by wedging one of Toliver’s sneakers under its back end. Then he’d cut a wide flap in the box’s front panel. Holding it closed, he shut the door against it. The weight of a hundred marbles lay behind the flap. The only thing holding it closed was the locker door. When that opened, the flap would drop and … marble avalanche.
Or so Jack hoped.
Even if it didn’t open, Jack could still claim victory, because he’d gotten past the new lock. Toliver had been invaded again. He’d know it, and so would everybody else.
That was part A. The success of part B depended on the success of part A, but was otherwise out of his hands; he’d need a little cooperation from Toliver for that.
He watched Toliver grasp the door handle and, just for a heartbeat … hesitate.
Yes! Jack thought. You’ve got a new lock, you’ve got the only key. You should feel you’ve got everything under control, but still you’ve got this nagging doubt.
Toliver yanked open the door and a multicolored cascade clattered from his locker, bouncing and rolling in all directions. He leaped back in surprise and landed on some of the marbles.
His soles rolled … his feet kicked … his arms windmilled … he looked like he was trying some sort of spaz break-dance move …
And then he went down, smack on his butt, making part B a complete success.
The crowd burst into laughter. Even Jack had to smile at how ridiculous he looked as he tried to get up and slipped again. Only by grabbing his locker door did he prevent another fall.
The crowd roared louder.
And that was when Toliver lost it. Really lost it.
His face was already crimson, but now he looked like Bruce Banner about to go Hulk. His lips pulled back in a snarl as he bent and picked up handfuls of marbles and began hurling them at the crowd.
“You think it’s funny? Having a good laugh, you sons of bitches?”
The crowd flinched and ducked as the marbles peppered them. A good many turned and began moving away. One kid thought it was funny and kept laughing. Toliver grabbed him and shoved him against the lockers.
“What’s so funny? What are you laughing at? You know something about this? Huh? Huh?”
The kid was small and Toliver kept slamming him against the lockers.
Suddenly Mr. Kressy appeared and yanked him back.
“Cool it!”
Toliver cocked a fist and for a second Jack was afraid the Toliver temper would overcome sanity and he’d take a swing.
“Don’t even dream about it,” Mr. Kressy said, staring him down.
Toliver lowered his arm and backed off a step.
Mr. Kressy looked around, then down at the marbles scattered on the floor. The kid Toliver had been manhandling scooted off.
“What is going on here? Are these yours?”
Toliver shook his head. “No way.”
Shaking his