Harlan smiled devilishly and said, “No problem, buddy.” Then he picked up the television’s remote control and switched the television to the Golf Channel.

They all had a good laugh at that, and when it was over, Tora sat down on the edge of the bed, ready to get down to business. “We have a problem,” she said.

Noble did his best to smile. “Tell me about it.”

Tora shook her head. “No, we have a problem at school.”

“What now?”

Tora was about to tell Noble all about it, but stopped herself short. “I’ll tell you…but only after you drink a glass of water.”

“No more,” Noble groaned. “I’ve been drinking all day. Gallons of it.”

“Come on, Noble,” said Argus, placing a glass with a bent straw by his brother’s mouth. “This is important.”

“Okay, all right.” Noble sucked on the straw and drank, but only a little.

Tora felt it was enough. “It’s Maria Abruzzo,” she said. “She’s making noise about finding out our secret again.”

Noble’s lips turned up into a smile. “She’s all talk.”

“Usually she is, but I think she’s serious this time.”

Harlan nodded. “Serious, or crazy?”

“Either way,” Argus said, “I think we should be concerned.”

Noble did his best to shake his head. “You don’t have to worry about Maria. She’ll be over it in a day or two and on to the next thing.”

Tora was unconvinced, but didn’t want to question Noble.

“Trust me,” Noble said.

Tora nodded, deferring to Noble’s judgment. Even though he was sick he was still the leader of the pack and he hadn’t been wrong about anything…yet.

“Now, who’s going to help me go to the bathroom?”

“What?” said Harlan.

“I’ve been drinking water all day,” Noble said. “I have to pee.”

Argus pointed to the door. “Bathroom’s over there.”

“I use a pot.”

Harlan and Argus groaned.

Tora said, “I think Phyllis needs help in the kitchen,” and quickly left the room.

* * *

Maria Abruzzo was cold.

She’d been crouched down among the trees behind the Brock house since after school, and the temperature had just kept dropping. There was less than an hour of sunlight left, and if she didn’t see anything soon she’d barely have enough to make it home before darkfall.

But what was she hoping to see? Maria wasn’t exactly sure. She’d originally thought that if she spent some time outside their house she’d learn something about the Brock kids that she could use against them. Like maybe she could peek in the bathroom window and catch Tora shaving—her face. Or maybe spot Harlan in the kitchen, eating his dinner out of a bowl.

That would be sweet…

If only it weren’t so cold.