Digger patted Alfie gently on the head. “I don’t know. But we have to call Colleen and Uncle Andrew and let them know.” He pulled out his phone and punched in the number. “Colleen? It’s Digger. Alfie’s here and he’s hurt. Apparently he’s been changing. . . . Yes, I figured you didn’t know. He’s turned into a squirrel and was attacked by the neighbor’s cat when he was leaving Gigi’s room. . . . Yeah, I know. . . . Okay.” Digger hung up. “They’re on their way.”

“I’ll go down and wait for them,” said Ali’s mom. “What can I do to help?”

“Maybe a hot water bottle. I think he’s in shock.”

Ali’s mother hurried away.

“Oh my,” Gigi whispered. The look on her face reminded Ali of a small child caught doing something naughty. What would happen when Gigi and Uncle Andrew saw each other?

She didn’t have to wait long to find out. Minutes later, Colleen and Andrew Sloane burst into the room and rushed toward Alfie, who lay on the towel, with the hot water bottle next to him. Ali backed against the wall and held her breath.

It wasn’t the family reunion she’d dreamed about. Colleen wept as she knelt beside the bed. “My poor baby,” she whispered, and kissed his head.

Andrew Sloane stood near the door, his arms crossed. “Did you know about this, Digger?” he demanded.

Digger shook his head. “I just found out, Uncle Andrew.”

“It’s my fault, Andy,” said Gigi. Ali could hear the pain in her voice. “He showed up at my window out of the blue the other night. I was so happy to see him. I should have told you. Then you could have started to train him.”

“If anyone should train him, it’s Digger,” said Colleen without looking up. “He told me he wants Digger’s help, but he knew Digger wouldn’t train him behind Andy’s back.”

The room got quiet. Everyone knew this was true.

Colleen held up a hand. “You Sloanes can fight later. Right now, we need to help Alfie. Why isn’t he changing back, Digger?”

“Maybe because he’s in shock? I think we need to let him rest.”

“Should we take him to a vet?” Ali asked.

Everyone turned to look at her.

“I can’t imagine a vet would want to help a squirrel, and what if he turned back into himself on the table?” said Colleen.

“Digger told me Uncle Percival was a rat for forty-two days,” offered Ali.

“Forty-two days?” whispered Colleen. She closed her eyes and shuddered.

“I didn’t know he was a Copycat,” Andrew Sloane said, more to himself than to anyone in the room. “Did you know, Colleen?”

Colleen murmured in Alfie’s ear and looked up. “I wondered. But I didn’t think he’d keep it a secret from me.”

“Or from me,” said Andrew Sloane.