What was it Howard had said? The mailman spent all day Sunday hibernating in his room? And when he came out on Monday, he was tired, like he’d been sick? Doug remembered how pale and weak the mailman had seemed after the Fourth of July holiday.

He needed to deliver the mail to survive.

Tritia pushed Doug away and stroked Billy’s hair. “What’s the matter with you?” she asked angrily. “Hasn’t he been through enough without his own father making him relive it?”

“I have an idea,” Doug said. “I think I know how to get rid of the mailman.”

Her eyes met his, and he saw in them a spark of hope. “How?” she asked.

“It’s crazy and it may not work.”

“If it doesn’t, we can go to Phoenix and never come back.” Her expression darkened. “If he doesn’t follow us and find us.” She held his gaze. “What is your idea?”

“We cut off his power supply. We stop the mail.”

“What?”

“That’s the only way he can get to us. You heard Billy. The mailman couldn’t touch him. And what about you? He didn’t touch you either, did he?”

Tritia recalled with sickening clarity the feel of his hardness beneath his uniform as she’d shoved her way past him in the bathroom. She slowly shook her head.

“You see? All he can do is manipulate people through the mail. That’s it. If we can just stop people from reading or sending mail, we can get rid of him. But we have to get everyone in town together. Every last damn one of them. If this is going to work, it’ll require the cooperation of every person in Willis.”

“I was talking to one of the nurses,” Tritia offered. “I don’t think that will be a problem. They all know what’s going on. They’re all scared. They’ll do anything.”

“We have to get the word out fast. I’m going to ask the police to help me, call some of the other teachers. If we can, I want to have a meeting of everyone in town tonight.”

“Tonight’s too soon. Word doesn’t travel that fast.” Dr. Maxwell stood in the doorway. He walked into the room. “I heard what you said, and I’m willing to try it.”

Doug looked at him, smiled. “Thanks.”

“I think you’ll have to make it for tomorrow night. I can’t be there, and neither can most of my staff, but you can talk to them beforehand. I think they’ll go along with you on this.” He looked at Billy, who was still facedown in the pillow. “We have to stop him.”

“If he can be stopped,” Tritia said.

“I think he can,” Doug said.

Billy’s voice was muffled by the pillow, but it was clear. “I think he can too,” he said.