Kelsey inhaled sharply. Slowly the gate began to open. Isaac wedged one shoulder in and paused.

“Skip!” Kelsey hit the stairs at a run and burst into the den. “Skip—in back—he’s trying to break in—”

“What! Who?” Skip stared at her, not fully comprehending, and Kelsey wondered if he’d been drinking. Justin and Neale were already running out the door to the pool. Donna jumped up and looked at Kelsey, and Skip finally grumbled and followed the other boys outside.

“Are you okay?” Donna grabbed Kelsey by the wrist and they raced out into the yard, just in time to see Justin and Neale run out through the gate.

“I saw him from the window—” She waited breathlessly for the sounds of a struggle. “They should have caught him by now. He was halfway in the gate—”

“Well, there’s nobody there now,” Skip spread his arms wide, letting them drop again loosely to his sides. “You said ‘he’—”

“Yes, it was Isaac.”

“Isaac!”

“I’m sure of it. I could see him plain as day.”

“What’s he hanging around here for?” Donna asked, more annoyed than frightened. “Doesn’t he have anything better to do?”

“Oh, he probably heard the music and wanted to join the party.” Skip grinned as Justin and Neale came back into the yard. “Any luck?”

“Not a sign of life anywhere.” Justin latched the gate and added, “What happened to your security system, anyway?”

“It hinders my comings and goings,” Skip said wickedly. “I disconnect it whenever possible.”

“Kelsey said it was Isaac,” Donna added.

“Isaac? What the hell’s he doing here?” Neale muttered. He tossed Kelsey a curious glance as he passed.

“I didn’t imagine it,” Kelsey said icily.

“Did I say you did?” Neale sounded unconcerned.

“You implied it. I saw him from the window upstairs.”

“That’s all right,” Justin stepped in. “We’re all a little jumpy. And Isaac’s harmless.”

“Nobody,” Skip lifted his beer can, “is harmless.”

“He’s right,” Neale said, and Skip looked at him in surprise. “How well can you ever really know anyone?” He disappeared into the house, leaving the rest of them in an uneasy huddle.

“I think we should go home,” Justin said. He laid one hand gently across Kelsey’s back and nodded. “This is enough excitement for one evening. Got your things?”

She couldn’t remember where she’d left her purse, and had to go back through the house looking for it. At last she found it in Skip’s room on a chair, and was just bending down to get it when she heard someone come in behind her.

“Couldn’t stay away, huh.” Skip gave her that teasing smile, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Skip, you scared me half to death. I was just looking for my purse.”

“Oh,” he looked disappointed, “I thought maybe you’d come to finish the tour.”

“You mean there’s more?” she laughed.

“Oh, my dear,” Skip draped one arm around her neck and guided her clumsily to another door not far from the darkroom. “I am just full of surprises, shocks, and thrills—” He pushed the door wide and raised his voice in a falsetto fanfare. “TADA! And here we have the eighth wonder of the world—” He swept his arms to encompass the crowded exercise room, and Kelsey burst out laughing as she saw what the “eighth wonder” was—a full-length mirror in which Skip’s image grinned back at her.