Not A Quiet Day On Campus

“There’s nothing in it!” Rodolfo exclaimed as he examined the little black book he had found in his backpack. His best friend Jack took the book from him and flipped it all around, trying to be careful because he could tell from the binding and cover it was very old. It was curious that the book was full of blank pages. Jack was the curious sort. He always loved a good mystery. He was forever trying to guess the ending of any detective or spy novel or movie he was enjoying. There did not seem to be much going on in this town even with the frat boys running all over the campus like they owned the place. A little mystery would take his mind off home and the beautiful blond-haired blue-eyed girl, Gina, back in Texas.

“Can I hold on to it?” Jack asked Rodolfo. “Sure, why should I care. It is just an old book with empty pages. Although I'm sure you’ll make some mystery out of it.” Rodolfo laughed. He remembered all the times back home that Jack had got the three of them into hot water with their parents over his antics. They even had their own detective agency while they were children. Caught a cat, up in a tree. That was the best and worst ten dollars they ever made. Although, looking back now he could see that the old widow, Mrs. Sanders, was just giving them the money and sending them on a wild goose chase. That cat had given them a run for their money and scratches that took a month to heal. Rodolfo did have a nagging question about how the book got into his book bag and why. But he shrugged it off, he had a football game to attend. He would let his eccentric and genius best friend do his thing. Why should he get in his way?

Jack did not waste any time, he first went to his printer, he had a spectrometer printer that would allow him to separate colors much like Thomas Edison’s famous glasses. His current use was for Advanced Biology, but he had been waiting for just a time like this! He carefully placed the book on the printer and hit go. It printed out a black sheet of paper. He knew instantly that this was not the answer. He decided to go the old-fashioned route and got a small lemon, a q tip and a blow dryer. As he lightly wet the paper, he began to see some words appear. He added some heat, and he could begin to make out words on the paper. It was some sort of diary. The words were distorted in some places, but he made out the words, “Nazi and safe.”

Jack was shaking with excitement as he realized that he could be holding a diary about world war 2. That maybe he had stumbled upon a hero who had led people to safety or even maybe a German soldier that had committed war crimes. Either way, he knew that this diary was valuable and even potentially dangerous in the wrong hands.

Jack continued with the lemon juice and heat and then thought maybe he could capture the words on the printer before they disappeared. He put the book back on the printer and pressed the print button. This time, when he printed the page, he got more than he thought he would. Not only were there diary notations, but there were also pictures. Jack had forgotten to remove the colored lens and the printer had captured pictures.

Jack studied the picture, and odd-looking box and then he read the words, “safe and 10,000 Reichsmark,” and took in a shaky breath. This diary was about Nazi treasure. Jack knew that all the world history classes were important. He just did not anticipate it would be helpful like this!

Jack picked up his cell and called Rodolfo. “Hey man, you need to get back here.” Rodolfo was running out of breath. “Dude, I’ve got some guy chasing me.” He said out of breath. I think I have lost him. Jack heard Rodolfo yell and then silence. “Rodolfo!” Jack yelled into the phone. “Roddy! Are you ok?” "You have until tomorrow morning to give me back what belongs to me.” He heard a man’s voice say with a thick German accent. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Jack lied. “Tomorrow.” Was the man’s reply.

Jack knew that his friend was in trouble and how valuable this little black book was. He also binge-watched crime shows on tv, so he knew that if he went to the police or tried to involve anyone else, Rodolfo would get hurt or they would, and he did not want anyone’s blood on his hands.

Jack felt like the weight of the world was pressing against his shoulders and the temples of his head. He could feel the pounding of his blood in his veins. What could he do? Jack thought a minute and decided to turn back to the book. If he could find the treasure maybe he could use that as leverage against whoever had Rodolfo.

Jack opened the book and feverishly began wetting each page with lemon juice, adding heat, and then printing the page. Slowly the book began to take shape and Jack could see why it was so important. There was money, yes, but there was also microfiche buried that had information on people living in America that were responsible for war crimes and atrocities were done on the Jewish people.

Jack poured over the words and the pictures, devouring each morsel, knowing that his friend’s life was at stake. He realized that the treasure was buried somewhere on the campus of this school. The school was new, so he was confused about where the treasure would be. The book was telling of treasure hidden within the structure.

Jack grabbed his computer and started a back door into the campus office computer. He needed to find some blueprints of the building. He had a basic layout of where to go in the book, so maybe he could find something on a file.

Jack searched typing in code in the little black box on his screen. Everything was coming up empty. He could not locate where they were keeping that file. Then he had a thought. The campus police. They would have a copy. So, he worked feverishly to hack into their computers, and finally, he located the blueprints. They would serve as a map. He knew that he was in so deep now. Committing crime to free his friend, he only hoped that when the Police found out they would go easy on him.

Jack printed out the blueprint on his printer and laid it out with the copies of the pages from the book. They did not match. Nothing was going right. How was he going to solve this puzzle? He needed help, but who could he trust?

His thoughts turned to Gina, the only person in the world who truly understood his mind. She was also as nerdy as he was and could figure things out. Maybe she could help from home, that would keep her out of danger. He picked up his cell phone and made the call.

Gina answered a little out of breath “Jack! What a surprise! What have you been up to?” Jack’s voice was taut and stressed. “Gina, I’m in trouble, I need your help.” He told her the entire story. “How did the book get there in the first place?” Gina asked. “That’s one of the mysteries that I need help solving,” Jack replied. “Are you in?” He asked. “Oh, I was in the moment you said mystery” Gina laughed. “Ok, I’m sending you pictures of everything I have right now,” Jack replied. “Yeah, not a lot of time Gina said, all though you have two extra hours on me.” She stated referring to the time difference from where she was in Texas to where Jack was in California. “I’ll call you after I’ve looked at everything,” Gina said.

Just then there was a crash outside. Jack ran to the door of the little room he shared with Rodolfo and looked out the peephole. There was a man in the hallway, and he had knocked over a trash can, he was shouting, and he had a German accent. Jack had to get out of there. He knew within minutes they would be at his room.

Jack grabbed up everything he could, his laptop, the papers, his phone and threw it in his backpack. He rushed to the window and opened it. As quiet as he could he pulled the screen off the window and set it aside and hopped outside he closed the window and replaced the screen just as he heard the door being forced open. He ran through the bushes that provided some protection from being seen and then as calmly as he could make his way through the small crowds of people being careful not to draw attention to himself.

He went to the campus library and called Gina, “Do you have anything?” He asked as he told her what happened. “Oh my gosh, Jack. Are you ok?” Gina asked. “Yeah, I’m good now,” Jack said in hushed tones. “OK,” Gina began. “I think I’ve got it!” Gina said excitedly. “There is only one place where this lines up.” She told him. “Look at the cafeteria. See the back. There is a closet that lines up with a stairway on the old picture.” Go to that closet and maybe we can figure out a way into the stairway. Take a flashlight.” Gina said. “I don’t have a flashlight. Well, I have my phone. That will have to do.” Jack said.

Jack ran from the library down the hall to the cafeteria. It was closed. The doors were locked. Jack was not prepared for all of this. He thought that he would be prepared if this ever happened in his life, but now he realized he was way in over his head. Jack examined the doors, they were not dead-bolted the way some of the other doors were, he realized if he used his credit card, he could probably jimmy the lock. He worked at it for what seemed like an eternity. Hiding what he was doing as people walked by. Finally, he got the door open and slipped inside. Jack pondered as he ran to the back of the cafeteria that no campus police were after him and he knew that they had security cameras everywhere.

As Jack reached the back of the cafeteria, he heard muffled voices coming from the closet. He tried the door, but it had been locked on the inside. He grabbed the closest thing he could find, a fire extinguisher and, beat on the handle. The door flung open and there was the German and Rodolfo.

Jack lunged for the German and they began to fight. Rodolfo’s hands were tied in front of him. Even so, he flung his body into the mix creating a dead weight on the German. Jack used the fire extinguisher and hit him across the jaw, knocking him out cold.

Jack untied Rodolfo and asked him what happened. Rodolfo said that the little black book was put in his backpack by the German because he had a CIA agent closing in on him. The little black book belonged to a powerful Neo-Nazi German Spy and it would help to solve crimes and prosecute war criminals.

As Jack was talking, a man appeared. He flashed his badge and Identified himself as CIA Agent Roberts. I gave him the book and he gave us a promise of $20,000.00 in reward money.

“What are you going to do with the money?” The Agent asked. “We’re starting a private detective agency.” Jack and Rodolfo said.