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to pick you up, but we have much to talk about and very little time to waste.”
    “How do you know Myra?” I ask.
    “In time, my child, we’ll speak more, but it’s imperative we keep this our little secret, okay?”
    “Yeah, okay.”
    “I take it you received the letter and uncovered the hidden message your uncle sent you?”
    With wide eyes open, Gabe responds, “Yes, but finding the message—”
    “Was quite easy,” I interrupt. I really don’t need Father Joseph to know our struggles with the letter. It may show a sign of weakness. After all, he needs our help, and I want his confidence in us assured.
    Right then, as I look at Gabe, I know that our plans this week have just been expedited. We decide to meet after school tomorrow at the old, abandoned gas station.
    Before Father Joseph walks away, he digs into his pocket, pulls out an object, and places it in Gabe’s hands. “I almost forgot. Finnegan told me to give this to you when you turned fifteen.”
    It’s a pocket watch. The inscription on the back of the watch says “William C. McManus.” This watch belonged to our grandfather, Connor McManus, a man of devout faith. I read somewhere that a pocket watch was a common object that’s passed down through the generations to the male as a customary token of honor. I believe that token has been passed down to a well-deserved young man. Father Joseph puts his hand on Gabe’s shoulder as a proud father would do to his son. Gabe’s lips are quivering, and I desperately want to console him, but I know this is not a moment.
    “Remember to bring the key with you; it’s time to uncover your fate,” he says as he walks away.

CHAPTER 6
    My room seems so quiet right now that all I can hear are the thoughts racing through my head and a constant ringing in my ears. Butterflies flutter in my stomach in anticipation of our meeting with Father Joseph. I don’t know what to expect. Regardless of the so-called ties he has with Finnegan, I’m still a bit suspect of our engagement. I don’t know how I’m going to get any sleep tonight, but I do know one thing for sure: tomorrow is a new beginning for Gabe and me.
    I hear footsteps lightly tapping up the stairs and know right away that it must be Niki. I’ve lived here long enough to recognize the patterns of everyone’s footsteps as they ascend the stairs. I walk over to the door to open it before she can knock, and greet her with open arms.
    “Hey, girl, how was your first day at school?” she says, hugging me.
    “Well, I-uh,” I stutter, then pause for a few seconds. “I think I may have put Gabe in an extraordinary situation that he’d rather not applaud me for.”
    “What did you do?” Niki asks. I explain to her the unfortunate circumstance and my intentions for Gabe, and by the look on her face I notice the immediate concern she has for him. I now feel even guiltier about what I did, but somehow she makes me feel better about what happened today. She has a knack for making the most negative situation seem better than what it appears to be. This is what a big sister is for, so I convince her to help me make Gabe feel better before he goes to sleep.
    “I know Gabe could probably use some encouragement. It may sound better coming from you, and who knows, he’s probably forgotten about the whole thing,” I say.
    “Your brother is obsessive-compulsive, I doubt it,” says Niki.
    We knock on his door, and as the door creaks open, all I can see is Gabe pacing back and forth and talking to himself. Lying on his bed is an inside-out shirt, with black tape and hard plastic pieces attached to the chest and shoulder areas. His pants appear to be stuffed with something.
    “Gabe?” I ask gingerly. I know he desperately could use some comforting words right now, but all I can think about is what we will find in that basement with Father Joseph. It’s quite clear what Gabe is thinking about.
    “Gabe, slow down, what are you doing? Arena explained to me