Zoe grabs me by the shoulder. “Arcade, don’t get your hopes up. The woman said he was here three years ago.”

I reach for my golden chain. “I know, but we have the power of pure gold working in our favor. And Carlos is walking! Anything can happen. I bet he’s up here. I asked the token, remember?”

We keep climbing, and Zoe keeps talking. “You asked the token to bring you to the Statue of Liberty.”

“I know. Because Loopy’s here. Zoe, we HAVE to find him!”

“One hundred forty-six more stairs left!” Carlos calls out, his triumphant voice echoing off the walls of the pedestal. “This is the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!”

Scratchy wipes sweat from his brow. “I’m glad YOU’RE enjoying it. This climb is making me itchy!”

I tune my ears for any sound of a Loopy bark, but all I hear are people, huffing and puffing. Finally, after a few more circles around the staircase, we come to a cramped area with little look-out windows.

“We’re here! The crown!” Carlos bends down to touch his toes and stretch. Then he leans with both hands against a window to look out. A tear rolls down his cheek. Then he turns to me. “I don’t know how you made this happen, Arcade, but thank you. Thank you SO much.” Then he goes back to gazing out the window.

The crown is cramped and stuffy. Each of us stands next to a little window and stares out. The waves gently roll in toward the shore way down below. We are higher than everyone else on Liberty Island. They all look like ants from up here.

One of those ants could be Loopy.

“Aww, I miss the little Arcade.” Zoe reaches over and messes my hair up with her hand. “You were so cute three years ago.”

“Three years, Zoe. The token is late by three years. Why would it do that to me?”

Zoe looks me straight in the eyes, and then she points to Carlos. “Maybe this isn’t about you.”

Yeah, Arcade. Don’t be so self-absorbed.

I walk over and stand next to Carlos.

He just keeps staring out at the city. “Man, I LOVE New York.” He looks over at me. “And I LOVE THIS DAY.”

And just as soon as he says that, something heavy drops on my chest, and golden glitter shoots out of the Statue of Liberty’s torch.

“RADICAL!” Scratchy yells. “This is better than the 4th of July!”

The glitter plasters itself on all the windows, and two of the panes grow and stretch to become elevator doors. The golden coin slot pops up, right in the middle of them.

“Does this mean we have to go back home?” Carlos reaches down and rubs the tops of both his legs.

I hate to say it. “Yes. I’m sorry. Back to Dooley. And the test.”