The closer they got to the Möhrings’ house, the more uneasy he felt. Ralf squinted nervously into the rearview mirror. Still no Mikey. He obviously felt he’d made his point and assumed he would get his money on Sunday without any problems. Thankfully, Naomi hadn’t even begun to realize how much danger she was in.

She was sitting next to him. Her sleek hair was pinned up, and she was freshening her lipstick in the visor mirror. In the back seat sat Sara; her best friend, Jackie; and Floris—some rich kid who was not only paying serious attention to Sara but also eyeing Naomi far too much for Ralf’s liking. He would have gladly let this guy walk all the way to the Möhrings’ place, but the girls had been too quick for him and had already dragged Floris into the car.

“Left here, and then another left right away,” said Sara.

He obediently followed her instructions, pretending to be unfamiliar with the neighborhood.

“You know what I completely forgot to tell you guys?” Naomi looked over her shoulder at the back seat. “Brian’s mother reported him missing today.”

“Jeez, that’s heavy,” said Sara.

“I know, right?”

“What will the police do?” asked Ralf. His voice was pinched.

“No idea.”

“They’ll probably put out an Amber Alert,” said Floris.

“No, that’s for kids. Brian is twenty-one.”

Floris looked genuinely surprised. “And you all hang out with him? A guy in his twenties?”

“Why not?” growled Sara. “Four years isn’t a big difference, you know.”

Floris didn’t answer, but he clearly disagreed. He stared morosely out the window.

Ralf enjoyed that, somehow.

“Here we are—the house at the end,” said Sara. “Just park across the street.”

Ralf pulled up next to the bushes and the electrical substation. He got out and looked at the house. A shudder passed through him. He had wanted to get inside this place from the moment he’d heard the shots—but now that he was on the verge of doing it, he had to fight the impulse to run away.

The group walked up the driveway ahead of him. He followed, picking his way through the haphazardly parked bikes, and closed the tall gate behind him. From the garage, he heard voices, laughter, and music that blared for a minute before being turned down. He thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket and surveyed the garden. Right at the back, behind the swimming pool and the lawn, stood the wall he had hidden behind for several hours last Saturday. A good deal closer, between the pool and the deck, was a row of shrubs. That was where he and Brian had spied on Werner Möhring.

“Ralf?” Naomi stood in the doorway. “Hurry up, man. Everyone’s already inside.”

14

14

“Mom, I want to introduce you to a few friends.”