“Don’t you sleep?” She’d asked him.

He’d made a hissing sound and flung his head around again.

“I can’t come out. I promised my mom.”

He’d walked a few steps away. His strange, scaly feet with toes that ended in long claws had scratched against the dirt.

“I don’t know what you’re so upset about. You’re the one who won’t tell me where the box is. If it’s such a big deal, tell me.”

He’d walked out of the light, frustrated with her.

Devin had closed the window and crawled back into bed. But the moment she’d turned out the light, the tic tic tic had started again. She’d put her pillow over her head, but he hadn’t let up until the lime-colored sunlight broke through the trees, and that’s when Devin had finally dozed off.

“What are you thinking about, baby?” Bulahdeen said from behind her.

“No one believes me about the alligator,” Devin said, turning away from the lake. “And Mom even saw him on the road coming here! I’m not making him up. Do you believe me?”

Bulahdeen smiled. “Sure I do. One person alone can’t do it. I’ve learned that. But two people? That’s a done deal. If two people believe in the same thing, it’s automatically real.”

That made Devin feel better. “He wants me to know things, then he won’t tell me. It’s frustrating.”

“He’s an alligator. And they’re single-minded, those alligators. They don’t focus on much except what’s right in front of them.”

“You’re right,” Devin said. “He needs my help.”

“Where to?” Bulahdeen clapped her hands and rubbed them together. “Anything else you want to see?”

“No. We better get back. I think I heard Wes’s van. He said he was coming by to help get things ready for Eby’s party.”

“Now that’s good news! Hot diggity. Let’s go talk to him.”

Bulahdeen scooted off at a fast clip, her arms pumping at her sides like she was power walking.

Devin hesitated, looking out over the cypress knees once more, before running to catch up with Bulahdeen.

She needed to find this box quickly. She had the strangest feeling that they were running out of time.

*   *   *

As soon as Wes arrived, Bulahdeen charged at him from the trail beside the lake and asked if he would set up the dance floor. Of course he agreed.