I pay close attention to vacuuming Hagrid and try to check all the names on the office doors. Senior Copy Editor: Carol Tinsley, Lead Photographer: Sam Ortega, Sports Editor: Zoe Corbin . . .

I gasp! Editor in Chief: Joe Salazar. I turn for his office and stub my toe right on the corner of a cubicle. The wall of the cubicle rocks back and forth, and I catch it with one hand, while hopping on one foot and trying so hard not to scream my head off. Yowza!

When the throbbing in my big toe subsides, I check the handle on Mr. Joe’s door. Unlocked! Looking back and forth and with eyes on Hagrid, I let myself into the office and close the door behind me.

I take a moment to let out a long-held breath. Mr. Joe’s office is covered in framed articles and a few certificates and diplomas. His desk is littered with coffee cups and food-stained papers. This place is a mess, and I don’t know which way is up. What the heck am I even doing? I don’t know how newspapers work or where Miss Flora Mae’s letters might be. And with that giant dude out there cleaning, I’m like a sitting duck!

Okay, okay, okay. Be cool, Sweet Pea. I start checking drawers and cabinets and thumbing through papers. This guy has enough paper in his office to make up a whole forest. Geez.

I hear the knob on the door turn. Oh dang!

I hide in the only place I can, under Mr. Joe’s desk next to his trash can, which definitely contains an old bologna sandwich or two. Footsteps clomp around the desk until two very giant work boots stand before me.

I clap my hand over my mouth as the janitor reaches under the desk. I press my body against the back of the desk, doing my best to make myself small, which, to be honest, is not an easy task for me.

His hand continues to search until—the trash can! He’s looking for the trash can. Despite the heavy metal music still blaring from his headphones, I do my best not to make any noise as I slide the metal bin into his grasp.

He pulls the trash can and I hold my breath as he changes the bags before tossing the trash can back under the desk and completely nailing me in the shin. I can’t contain the yelp that slips from my mouth.

The big work boots don’t move.

He heard me. He so totally heard me.

The music grows louder as he tugs his earbuds out of his ears and stands perfectly still for a moment.

Hagrid lets out a loud hmmph before walking back out of the office and slamming the door.

I collapse onto the floor, and holy cannoli, that was a close one. My nerves are shot. I was not meant for a life of crime, that’s for dang sure.

And then I see it. Sitting on top of the filing cabinet behind Mr. Joe’s desk, Miss Flora Mae’s envelope sits, unopened.