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or even in his shoe? How could he have been so stupid?
    â€œDoesn’t matter,” he told himself. “You’ll just have to go get it.” Of course he would have to wait until Gudger and his mother went to bed, but that was no problem. He would just sneak out to the toolshed, grab one of Gudger’s flashlights, and retrace his steps along the fence line. Once he found the backpack, he’d hurry back here. If Gudger was snoring as loudly as he usually did, he would call Mary Crow immediately, from the forbidden phone in the den. Who cared what Gudger thought?
    He got up from the window and cracked open his door. The late news theme song blared from the television. That meant his mother would be heading to bed. Gudger would linger to watch the weather and sports, then he would follow. Their bed might squeak for a few minutes, then they would go to sleep. Softly, he closed his door and got back into bed. All he had to do now was wait. Once he heard Gudger snoring, he could go and get that card.

    Hours later, he opened his eyes. He bolted upright, blinking, ready to sneak out of the house and retrieve the card, but something was wrong. It was light outside. Birds were chirping. He was dressed but sock-footed, his shoes still peeking from under the bed. He realized that while he’d been waiting for Gudger to go to bed, he’d fallen asleep.
    But maybe I can still do it , he thought. Maybe I can sneak up there if they think I’m asleep.
    Quietly, he got out of bed, opened his door. Though he smelled fresh coffee, the house was silent—he heard no TV commercials, no cabinets slamming as Gudger fixed his usual Cheerios and milk. His mother had probably gone to work, but where was Gudger?
    He crept into the hall, tiptoeing past the master bedroom. The door was open, revealing a made-up bed, a dresser clean of Gudger’s normal paraphernalia (wallet, car keys, Taser). Chase had a wild moment of hope—Gudger had been promising to take his mother’s car into the shop for months—had he dropped her off at work so he could take the thing to the mechanic?
    Emboldened by his possible good luck, he padded through the den and into the kitchen. The coffee was still warm in the pot and Gudger’s cereal bowl lay in the sink, but the house was empty. Chase’s heart leaped. Gudger was gone!
    Quickly, he headed for the back door. He wouldn’t need a flashlight now. Now all he had to do was get to the back fence, grab his backpack, and get home. He hesitated a moment, remembering yesterday, when Gudger had appeared from nowhere and snapped those pictures of him in his underwear. The man was mean, and sly as a fox. But as he scanned the back yard, he saw that the patio was empty and the door to Gudger’s shed was closed and locked.
    â€œCome on,” Chase told himself. “Don’t be such a nelly. Gudger’s not here.”
    He took a deep breath and stepped out into the already hot morning. Feeling strangely exposed, he ran across the patio and headed toward the toolshed. He’d just jumped over his mother’s sad little patch of marigolds when a voice rang out.
    â€œWell, if isn’t Olive Oyl, done with her beauty sleep!”
    H is heart caught in his throat as he turned to see Gudger sitting under the eaves of the house in an aluminum lawn chair, drinking coffee as he read the paper. Chase closed his eyes. He should have known better. There was no way of escaping Gudger.
    â€œWhere are you going in such a hurry, boy? You look like your head’s on fire and your ass is catching.”
    â€œN-nowhere.” Chase felt as if he was standing there naked, even though he’d slept with all his clothes on.
    â€œWell, nowhere must be a pretty exciting place, if it’s got you out of bed with so much piss and vinegar.”
    He didn’t know what to say. Sam’s phone call had gotten him out of bed; saving his sister had filled him full of piss