“I don’t understand.” Sue spoke first. “What’s wrong with the computer room in level 16 of our chief building?”

“You have a power source there that supplies electricity to that building.” the engineer reckoned.

“Yeah sure.” Sue agreed nodding but, her face wrinkled with confusion.

“Well, the wires in there were jammed. Many of them cut out and are now missing. I figured that because only the power source in the chief building was tampered, only the chief building could be affected.” The engineer said. “So how on earth could other buildings, the boarding houses face electric problems?” Archibald asked.

“And we never connected all the wires.” Edgar said looking at Sue for reference. He turned back to the engineer. “We avoided that for safety reasons. Because if one building caught fire then the whole school would be turned to ashes.”

“Archibald please call Mr. Hague.” Sue said. Edgar glimpsed at her and felt down. The school problems affected her so much.

Archibald picked up the receiver, spoke to his secretary and then replaced it. “Mr. Hague couldn’t have done this.” He said.

“Surely it’s the students.” Edgar added.

“I might agree with you.” The engineer said. “The wires were messily cut.” He paused. “But, if it is as you said, that the school wires are not connected, then the jamming of the wires in the level 16 computer room,” he hesitated.

“Yes?” Edgar asked.

“It’s too early to assume that.” The engineer replied feeling reluctant.

Just then, the conference door opened and a tall thin man in a black waistcoat over a white shirt and dark trousers walked in. “Good afternoon.” He greeted.

“Afternoon.” Sue replied quickly. “Mr. Hague, are you aware of the fault in your computer lab?”

“Yes ma’am. I was with the engineer at the power control booth. But, from how it looks, the cables were distorted recently.”

“I was getting there.” The engineer said. “That’s what made me assume that that wire jamming is just a decoy to cover the real problem.

“Whoever cut those wires must have known that I was coming to check. He wants us to think that the power problem comes from level 16. So he cut them so carelessly. But, as you said, only the chief building is supposed to be affected…” he paused, thinking.

“You’re getting me all the more confused.” Sue confessed. “Archibald, your students could do all that?”

“I don’t know how to explain Sue.” Archibald replied with deep disappointment in his voice.

“The engineer must be right.” Mr. Hague said and glanced at Edgar. “Sir, do you remember that chip we inserted in the mother CPU last year for monitoring the CCTV cams and various cables within Hamerton?”

Edgar squinted his eyes recalling and then nodded. “How could I miss that? Sue, Archibald, the chip we installed in level 16, May, last year. It is the only thing that combines the electricity of all the buildings in Hamerton. Including the boarding houses, the teacher’s quarters the football stadium-” his eyes widened as he named the various important parts of Hamerton. He exhaled and turned back to Mr. Hague. “So, where’s that chip now?”

“That’s the problem. It’s missing.” Mr. Hague said regretfully.

“Shit” Edgar cursed.