“Sage? What’s happened to Ellen?” He’d been running and was out of breath.

I focused on Officer Day’s question. Barbie Man had come to kill Wilson. But he must have seen Ellen, and . . . maybe he’d taken Ellen to get her to name him. To show him where he lived? But then, what would he do with her?

I started to talk. “Someone helped us when Ellen got hurt. He is the one who found out who the guy was, and he went to Pottstown with some boys from around here and they beat him and messed up his car and cut part of his hair bald. I think he’s looking for them.”

Thomas kicked the ground. “Are you all fucking crazy? What’s wrong with you, Libby?”

“Who was this person who helped you?” Officer Day had the pencil ready in his hand, waiting.

“It was Wilson,” said Thomas. “Right?”

The two policemen exchanged glances. “Wilson McVay?” asked Officer Day.

“Yes,” I said.

“We are going to need to take statements from both of you at the station in Phoenixville. We’ll have to call your older sister to come there.”

Grady Adams stepped forward. “I know these children. I am happy to come with them.”

Officer Day shook his head. “I’m sorry, but it has to be someone who is a legal guardian or related.”

Thomas backed away from me, and Sage came closer, putting her arm around my shoulder. Tony was there, trying to be helpful.

“People,” said Officer Day to the crowd still standing around, “unless you have information relating to this incident, can I ask that you find your vehicles and leave.”

The crowd backed off a little. I saw Abbey watching with the others, even though she’d left ages ago. She’d probably heard the sirens.

Officer Day turned to me. “Can you show me where the Camaro was parked?” It was just a few yards away, and everyone moved as I showed the policeman the exact place where I’d seen it. Officer Day turned to the other cop and asked for the light. It was the kind of floodlight they’d used the night we pool-hopped. It lit the ground, and Officer Day and his partner walked around. I stood back while they combed the area.

Someone tugged on my blanket. It was Abbey. “Your brother took off,” she whispered. “He’s gone down the trail.”

I looked at Sage. She’d heard it too. I felt weak then, and just sat down on the ground. Where would he go? To see if Ellen was at home? No. He knew she wouldn’t have left the bike.