“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Dennis grumbled. “I didn’t even get out to walk around. So, what you’re saying is if that skunk doesn’t show up by ten, I have to leave. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Pretty much, son. You need to take it up with the real-estate board. I wish you good luck.”

Dennis pressed the button to raise the window before he collapsed against the seat. That, he congratulated himself, was an Academy Award moment. He looked down at his watch: 9:11. It was fully dark now. He’d originally planned to make his move at nine-thirty, to check out the house on foot the way Ted suggested. When he saw Stacey Copeland arrive back at her apartment building a few minutes past eight, he made the decision to go at nine-thirty.

With the cop now wise to him and the fact that he was patrolling the neighborhood, Dennis realized he needed to relocate or go home. The third possibility was to call in reinforcements. He decided to go with the third option, and quickly punched in Myra’s cell-phone number. She clicked on after the first ring. He quickly repeated the night’s events and waited for a response, which was for him to go to the gas station and wait for Myra and Annie.

Dennis pressed the starter button and turned on his headlights. He sighed. He wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or delighted. He’d done all the legwork, and now, if the two ladies didn’t want him in at the finish, assuming he was right and Amalie Moss and Rosalee Muno were in the house, he was going to be one very unhappy camper. He was almost certain that Myra and Annie would want him at the finish line. Who else would they get to skulk around the backyard and peer into windows? Yours truly, that’s who.

Dennis made it to the gas station without running into the cop who’d checked him out. He felt grateful. If he was allowed to go with Myra and Annie, he’d leave his car at the gas station and drive with them.

Even if Annie drove like hell, he knew it would be thirty minutes before they joined him at the twenty-four-hour gas station and convenience store. He decided to use the restroom for the fourth time that day. He splashed cold water on his face and toweled off with scratchy brown paper towels. He washed his hands and combed his hair. Satisfied that he looked as good as possible, he marched into the convenience-store section of the gas station and bought a cold iced tea, some Twinkies, and chips.