“And make it quick! I’m hungry!” Marlon’s stomach gurgled as they raced into the forest. “Those two are the best, uh…tree branch removers I got. Shouldn’t take too long.”

“I hope not,” Paco said. “We don’t have a lot of time to spare.”

“What should we do while we wait?” Roscoe asked.

“What else?” Clementine smiled, diving into the food.

CHAPTER TWENTY

The PB&J Operation

“ARE WE CLOSE?”

“Yes, Isaac. Why? Are you getting tired?” his younger brother teased.

“Malcolm, when you get to be my age–”

“Which is only one year away.”

He blushed. “When you do, you’ll appreciate honey more. A lot more.”

“So honey makes you tired?”

“No, being fat does!” They laughed and Malcolm ran ahead. “Do you suppose–”

“Shhh! We’re here.”

Their masked faces peeked through a wild bush on the edge of a small clearing. They were in awe of the sheer number of black crows everywhere—flying, perched in trees, and on the ground among the cedars and evergreens.

“Golly, Malcolm! I almost forgot how many crows are in Diego’s gang!”

“Just keep your eyes peeled for that collar. Boss said it’s real shiny.”

They scanned the crows on the ground. A pair fought over a small object. A piece of aluminum foil fell to the ground.

“Is that it?” Isaac asked.

Malcolm squinted. “No, keep looking.” They looked everywhere. No sign of it!

“Maybe they already took it to Don Diego.”

“Not likely. A crow is still a crow, and they’re selfish. But unless we search every crow we may not find it.”

“Search them…or beat them, you mean?” Isaac smiled mischievously.

“There’s at least forty of ‘em!”

“Pretty good odds, I’d say.”

Malcolm saw a flash of colored light traverse his brother’s face and momentarily blind him. They looked up. Sitting on the top branch of a towering cedar was a crow wearing a shiny, sparkly collar around its neck.

“There it is!” Malcolm whispered in excitement, pointing. “Around his neck!”

“He could’ve picked a lower branch. Why d’ya suppose he’s way up there?”

“He’s showing off. If we wait long enough, others will start fighting him for it.”

“We don’t have time. The boss needs it back quick.”

Malcolm kept his eyes on the crow. “Alright, then. One of us has to climb that tree and take the collar while the other distracts the crows on the ground.”

“I’ll go up the tree, little brother.”

Malcolm looked doubtful. “Isaac, those branches at the top won’t hold you.”

“Honey, Malcolm. Honey.” He said in defense of his bulging gut.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll get it. Once I do, then you cause the distraction, okay?”