“Do you remember what street Wiley Overton lived on when he was in first or second grade?”

“Why? Did Wiley take Loopy?”

“No. But we were at Wiley’s house when he was little the last time I saw him. I think. Anyway, do you remember, Doug?”

Doug was quiet for a few seconds. “I’m sorry, Arcade. I don’t know. But I know I could walk there from my house.”

“Really? Which direction? North or south?”

“North or south? Who knows? I didn’t have good direction then. I don’t really have it now. Good thing everything in New York City is numbered! Even the schools . . .”

“That’s it! The schools! What school did Wiley go to in third grade?”

“You know where he went, bro. He went to PS 23. Before he got kicked out, I mean.”

“PS 23? Right! That makes sense. Doug, I gotta go. I’m sorry!”

“No worries. Go find Loopy. Hey, have you talked to your parents about adopting me, yet?”

I kicked myself on the inside. “No, I haven’t had time to have a serious conversation with them yet. But I will. I promise.”

Doug sighed. “Okay. Well, go find your little pooch . . . And shoot me a text when you do!”

“I will. Thanks, Doug!” I stopped to put my phone in my back pocket. “ZOE! I’m going to PS 23!”

Zoe turned around. “What? Not by yourself you’re not. I’m going with you!”

Zoe ran back to me, and Michael followed. “I’ll hang with you two. Let Carlos and Scratchy ride through the park. With their wheels they’ll be faster. Why do you want to go to PS 23?”

“Uh, I just got a tip that Loopy might be there.”

“Okay then, let’s go!” Michael changed direction and started jogging west. Zoe waited until he was out of hearing range before whispering to me, “I don’t know if Loopy made it to the school scene, Arcade. I was too busy watching the boys fight to notice. And who knows if it’s even possible to find him if we don’t go through the doors first.”

“I know. But we gotta check. He’s my dog!”

Zoe’s shoulders rose, then fell. “I know. Let’s go.”

*  *  *

It took us about twenty minutes to get to PS 23. The gates were locked around the small yard outside the building. Michael jumped up, threw his leg over the chain-link fence, and dropped himself inside. “I’ll go check it out!” He disappeared behind the far wall.

I peered through the metal fence, hoping to spot the place where Wiley had his fight with the boys in third grade. “It has to be . . . THERE! Those are the bushes we hid behind.”

Zoe grabbed the fence and pushed her nose through a gap. “I don’t see him, Arcade. And Loopy’s fast. I can’t imagine he’d stay put.”

“He would if he was waiting for me.”