Roger Klotz. Kid has a rap sheet a mile long. Vandalism. Petty theft. Fights. Of course, the school's never been able to get more than a few days suspension on him. Every few weeks Mommy makes a showing at some fundraiser, and suddenly Roger is the darling of X Middle School.

He should've been expelled months ago.

Of course, Mommy's money will only get you so far. Turns out Roger had been slacking off on his schoolwork. Badly. So much so that if he doesn't pass Grotke's class, it looks like he'll be held back.

Guess how he did on his last test?

Most embarrassing part was that it was a TAKE-HOME test. Open Book, Open notes. With opportunities for extra credit. And assistance from Miss Grotke if it was really needed. The only way that test could've gotten any easier would be if it had been handed to Roger already completed, with a mint taped to it.

And the kid STILL failed.

So, by now it was obvious that Roger had a motive...but something still didn't sit right with me. Planning something like this wasn't Roger's style: he's too impulsive. He's too violent. Mostly, he's too stupid. I'd have expected him to key her car and slash her tires rather than set out to ruin her life.

That's when TJ proposes a theory to me: What if Roger had someone completely under his thumb? Someone smarter than he could ever be? Someone who, by now, was slavishly devoted to him?

Ingrid hits me up on my walkie-talkie. She points me to the fact that not only was Roger failing Grotke's class...but Penny Proud was pulling an A in her Introduction to Technology course.

Disco.

Ingrid fills me in on what class Penny has. I tell TJ I'll take it from here and start heading over...when I hear a noise from the Girl's bathroom.

No, not a noise: a voice. A screechy, piercing, irritating voice.

Klotz.

"What did you tell them, Penny Per Pound?" What was this guy's thing with making up names? He called Doug Funnie-face. He called me Filler-face. He calls Ingrid Third....Ingrid Third.

In his defense, it's hard to come up with something there.

I wait it out, listening, hoping Roger is stupid enough to say something incriminating on school grounds.

A few seconds later, I wish I had stepped in.

"Baby, I swear, I didn't say anything..."

"Shut it!"

A smack. My heart sinks to my stomach. I'm about to bust through that door when Roger beats me to it. I barely manage to get out of the way before getting impromptu rhinoplasty courtesy of Dr. Composite Wood. Roger storms past, grumbling to himself. Luckily, he didn't see me.

I slowly peek into the Bathroom. Penny's sobbing, trying to hide the bruise on her face with paper towels for some reason.

Am I REALLY going to bust this girl? I finally manage to find my voice.

"Uh...hey." She turns, her face red. I'm honestly not sure how to proceed here. "Listen-"

She cuts me off. "He needs me." How did I know she was going to say that? I sigh. "Listen, you don't have to tell me anything, you don't have to justify anything, just...if you need to talk to someone, if you ever feel threatened, come talk to me, OK?"

There's an uncomfortable silence before I finally leave the room.