14 The Ladder to Somewhere

CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Ladder to Somewhere Double Helix (noun). The appearance of a double-stranded DNA molecule with two lines that run parallel to each other and twist together. DNA is very famous and probably would have signed autographs if it could have. "WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING in the bathroom," Elijah said as he and Memito stepped out of the tiny bathroom on the side of the PTA office. We continued to search through the lab, opening drawers and looking behind bookshelves. There were lots of books on molecular chemistry. But no textbook on DNA since Rosalind Franklin had just made that breakthrough. Understanding the structure of DNA might have been the most important discovery of the twentieth century. At least, that's what Dr. Caroline says. DNA is a

molecule that looks like a twisted ladder. That's why they call it the double helix. DNA is sort of like an instruction booklet for your body to do every job it needs to survive. It tells each cell in your body what it needs to do, like telling your hair how to grow or your stomach how to break down food. Suddenly thoughts of DNA gave me an idea. "Hey, you guys, you know that coil that appeared after we rubbed the crayon on the paper? What if it's DNA? Maybe it's another clue." "But it's not like we can see DNA with our eyes," said Phoenix. "True," I said. "You can't even see DNA with a regular microscope. It's ridiculously small." Somehow before we knew it, we had twenty- nine minutes left. Actually, it was hard to forget since Memito kept on reminding us every few minutes. "Hey, look at that old-timey phone," said Memito suddenly, pointing to a high-up shelf. It was black with a rotary dial. "I just noticed it. And there's some kind of letter next to it." "Yeah, and the phone's got a really long coil thingy," said Elijah. I whirled around to stare up at the phone and an old-fashioned curly telephone cord. I pumped my fist in the air. "Score! A coil. That's our clue."

"Wow. It really does look just like the coil on the paper," said Birdie, amazed. "Quick! Quick, get it down," I yelled. "Ugh, where's Skyler when you need him?" said Elijah as he tried to jump up to reach the phone and the letter, but it was just out of reach. "Use the stepladder," said Phoenix, pointing to a small ladder in the corner. I grabbed it and shoved it against the bookcase. In a flash, Elijah climbed up a couple of rungs and pulled down the phone, along with the envelope. "There's a cardboard tube here, too," he exclaimed. After taking the plastic cap off the tube, he inspected it and shrugged. "It's empty." He stuck it in his lab coat pocket. "This will make a great drumstick though." Then he ripped open the envelope and began to read the note. "Customers, please pardon the interruption in service. There was an explosion nearby that knocked out the wires. But service has been restored." Then he flipped to the back of the note. "There's a zero next to an eleven, then the number forty-four written in giant numbers." He shrugged. "Maybe it's how much the stationery cost?" "Listen to the phone," said Elijah. "Maybe there's a message for us."

Memito picked up the phone's receiver. "Nah, it's dead. Dead like we're going to be if we don't escape this room and that evil dude gets here, Dr. Dragon." "Dragas," corrected Phoenix. "Can you not use the word 'dead,'" I pleaded. "The point is that an old-timey-looking phone has no dial tone," said Jeremy. "And can you not say 'old-timey,'" said Phoenix. "It takes us out of the moment." "Then why do you dress that way?" accused Jeremy, nodding at Phoenix's vintage shirt. "All old-timey?" "Everyone, please stop arguing," said Birdie, her voice warbling. "I seriously want to get out of here." Her eyes slid to the combination lock on the front door. "Birdie is right," I said. "We need to find the image of the virus and figure out the code to open the lock." "Also, anything can be a code," Jeremy stated with certainty. "Yeah," agreed Memito. "I once saw this video where kids were trapped in an escape room. I mean really stuck because it was a horror movie. And anyhow, they had to deal with this creepy guy in a clown outfit if they wanted to live."

"Oh, please stop," I said, clapping my hands over my ears. "I really don't want to hear about creepy clowns." "Me either," said Birdie. "We should also think about what might be a safe or even a lock," said Jeremy. "In this one escape room I heard about, the roulette wheel was actually this giant combination lock. So everyone keep your eyes open." Memito opened his eyes extra wide. "I'm looking!" he shouted. "Hey, what about that telephone?" I said, pointing to the old black phone with a rotary dial. "Maybe it's not a phone, but a safe." "Yes!" agreed Elijah. "It's got to be here for a reason." I lifted up the phone and examined it. "This could be a lock. What was that number again? The one on the blank paper?" "I'll read it," said Phoenix. "020-7111-2413." "That's too long for a combination lock," said Jeremy. "Remember?" "What if it's a phone number?" said Phoenix, her voice growing excited. "Okay, um, how do you dial one of these?" asked Memito. "It kind of scares me."

"It's easy," said Elijah. "My grandpa has a bunch of old phones. He keeps them for fun. You dial with the wheel. And pick up this thingy from that thingy." I shook my head. "Oh, wow. You and directions." Elijah was notorious for throwing away his Lego set directions. "It's called removing the handset from the cradle," said Phoenix. "I know because when I was younger, I read old Nancy Drew books." Memito put the handset up to his ear. "It's still dead." "Put your finger in the hole of the number you want to dial," explained Elijah. "Then make the dial thingy go clockwise until it hits the metal thingy." Memito started dialing as I called out the numbers. Then we all held our collective breath. "Nothing," said Memito. He looked up with his hands raised in the why me position. "Maybe it's the wrong number," said Elijah. "Let Phoenix try," said Jeremy. "Since she's old-timey." Phoenix marched up to Memito, swung her waist-length hair, and grasped the phone. "Thank