By the time I’d got Peter to bed, Ellen had fallen asleep on the couch. I watched the TV with no sound, and looked at the clock. At twelve thirty the headlights hit the windows, and for a few seconds they stayed there. And for a moment I thought, Oh thank God, she’s not stopping. But then they cut. I’d made a terrible mistake. I tried to calm myself. Wilson hadn’t liked the idea, and he’d never said he’d actually do it.

At one fifteen, the headlights came on and drew closer, making the tree trunks look as if they were moving across the room. Now Mrs. Boucher was going to give me money, and I had spied on her. And I had to come back in the morning with Ellen to get Peter ready for the parade. I shook Ellen awake and was glad she was with me right then. I didn’t feel like I could face Mrs. Boucher alone.

On the ride home, Mrs. Boucher smoked, and Ellen was still half asleep. I couldn’t think of anything to say, but sat upright and alert, half expecting Wilson to overtake us or Barbie Man to step out of the trees and flag down the car. Mrs. Boucher dropped us at the top of our street. She rolled down her window as we got out.

“See you in the morning. Thank you, Ellen, for doing this with Peter. I wouldn’t have known where to start.”

Ellen mumbled that she was happy to do it. We’d only walked a few yards down the road when I saw that someone was sitting on the quartz rock at the end of our driveway.

“Ellen, Wilson’s on our driveway.” I was afraid she’d scream if I didn’t warn her. But naming him seemed to wake her up, and she waved at him in the dark. We got closer and Wilson stood.

Before I could say “Please don’t tell me, I’ve changed my mind,” he spoke. “Outside the Nike site. Mercedes W123. From twelve twenty-five until one fifteen.”

I knew already, but it still sucked the breath out of me. Why had I asked him to do this? Why had I looked for proof?

“What, Wilson?” Ellen asked.

“Oh, nothing. Was just passing and thought I’d say hello to Stunt Girl, aka Wonder Woman, aka Ellen.”

“In the middle of the night? You’re very strange.” Ellen was looking at him like his strangeness was the best thing ever.

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