Afternoon lessons had finished a while ago. Everyone (except Andy) had to go to afternoon lessons, even Claudia. So he just carried on reading Alice In Wonderland, slowly on his own. Alice had gotten really tall and cried and then really small and nearly drowned in her own tears.

When lessons finished Claudia showed him the rooms upstairs. There were some rooms for boys and some for girls, though there wasn't any difference in them. They were all dusty and the beds were old and creaky like the floor. The walls were mostly bare apart from the wallpaper, which looked like it used to be white and had clowns on it. Some parts of the room didn't even have wallpaper, so you could see the wall underneath. Andy's room at home was covered with posters: posters of football players, posters of cars, movie posters and posters of Spiderman.

Claudia helped Andy choose a bed and then left him with the boys in his room. The boys and the girls didn't play together during 'private study time', so she had to leave him.

Andy had nothing to study and he was finding Alice's adventures a little hard to read without his new friend. The other boys were all looking at their worksheets from the lesson which they wouldn't show him. He was sitting cross legged on the bed that he chose, wrapped in his tatty blanket. Snow was still falling outside the window but it wasn't staying on anything. That was good. He wanted the sun to come back out.

"Andy."

He jumped at the sound of Claudia's voice. Taking care not to lose his quilt, he turned slowly round to face her.

"Andy, I need to ask you something."

"Okay." He said.

The boys in the room were watching them talk. She wasn't supposed to be in here and they knew it. Claudia gave them a really nasty look. Andy hoped she might beat them up. He didn't like them very much.

"This is a private conversation." she hissed, "Get out."

"If we get caught on the landing, we'll get in big trouble with Fat Pat." answered Vincent, the meanest one.

"If you don't get out I will inform Mr. DeSalvo what you just called him and I will tell my father that you were all disobedient."

The boys mumbled and filed out of the room. Claudia sat on the end of Andy's bed. She was white like his bed sheet and she looked like she had been crying.

"Andy," she said seriously, "it is important that nobody knows officer Gucci was here today and -"

"Why?" he interrupted. He liked Thomas and wished he could have stayed longer.

She smiled at him nervously.

"The topic of discussion between the policeman and my father today...he used to research things like that for a living. He was considered an expert in his field."

"Who? Thomas?"

"What? Who is Thomas?"

"Officer Gucci."

She smiled more warmly.

"No, not Thomas, my father. He used to study parapsychology and occultism. It is very important to him that no one finds out he made a mistake today. He would be mortified if any of his associates were to find out."

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

She sighed.

"Daddy made a big mistake today and he was very embarrassed. The policeman agreed not to tell his colleagues he was here, though he couldn't destroy his notes, and the only other people here were you and I. Father would prefer that you didn't tell anyone that officer Gucci was here."

Andy thought that it was better to tell the truth – lies just meant that you had to tell more lies. But then, it seemed very important to Claudia and Mr. Wolf. He supposed that not telling anyone something was not the same as telling a lie. And Thomas had already agreed to it.

"I can keep a secret if you want." he grinned.

"Thank you. Let's not discuss it any more."

Claudia seemed relieved. Andy felt happy that he could help.

There was a cry from the landing. Fat Pat barged in carrying Walter, the smallest boy, by his sweater. He dropped him and turned to Claudia who was facing away from him.

"What do you think you're doing in here Wolf?"

She didn't answer.

"Girls are not allowed in the boys' dorm, even you Wolf. You think the rules don't apply to you but I will teach you that they do."

Claudia sprang off the bed and stood in front of Fat Ogre, the toes of her long socks touching the toes of his big dirty boots. His lips moved back and showed all of his horrid teeth. He laughed loudly, holding his belly. Walter sat on the floor whimpering.

"I was asked by my father, while he was busy, to give a message to Andy, Mister DeSalvo."

"And what message was that Miss Wolf?"

All of a sudden, Claudia didn't look so brave. She started to back away from him.

"I...I can't tell you that."

The Fat Pig followed her slowly.

"If you can't tell me why you're in here, then I say you broke the rules, you face the consequences."

He shoved her back on the bed next to Andy.

"I didn't break the rules!" screamed Claudia, covering her face, "Ask Daddy!"

He grabbed her arm and pulled it away, then smacked her across the cheek.

"But Daddy isn't here." he said, showing his teeth again.

He looked like he was going to hit her again. Andy knew that face he was making very well. He hated the fat man. He felt really angry and terrified at the same time.

"Oh yes he is!" boomed a big voice from the doorway.

Mr. Wolf stormed into the dorm. He stood between Claudia and Mr. DeSalvo. Fat Pat looked very nervous. Mr. Wolf was furious.

"Mr. DeSalvo, this is unacceptable behavior from a grown man..."

"The two of them were alone in the dorm Mr. Wolf."

"I don't want any excuses Andrew. We will talk in my office. Wait for me there."

Andy didn't like the fat man having the same name as him.

"Claudia, I will speak to you later. Wait in the girls' dorm, where you should have been in the first place."

Without complaining or making accusations, without telling on Fat Pat or the nasty boys, she rose and straightened out her hair and dress. With a tear forming in her good eye, she calmly and quietly left the room.

Ignoring Walter sniffling on the floor and the others returning to their dorm, Mr. Wolf turned to Andy.

"Andy, my apologies to you for a second time today. I can assure you that this is not normally how we do things here. Should you feel it necessary to discuss this incident with your mother, be sure to mention that appropriate action was taken against Mr. DeSalvo."