So Max didn’t go to the footy, because this morning Dad had put beers in the esky. And now Max was home alone. He didn’t like being home by himself, so he’d locked all the doors and played Call of Duty until he got sick of it. Now he looked at the clock on the microwave—just after five o’clock. The game would be over. He wondered who’d won.

Rosie started barking so he let her in and locked the door again. She wasn’t supposed to come in, but Mum wasn’t here so it didn’t matter. He sat on the couch, patted the cushions, and Rosie jumped up. He put his arm around her neck and laid his head on her fur. She was panting as if she was smiling. Did that mean she was happy?

There was more barking outside, so Max went to the window to see what was happening. Bonnie was yapping like crazy at the fence. She usually didn’t bark much. What could be upsetting her? Max was about to open the window and shout at her to shut up, when he saw someone on the footpath in front of his house. Someone tall and skinny.

Max’s stomach knotted, and he ducked down so Jaden wouldn’t see him. He heard clomping on the front porch. A knock at the door.

Rosie went nuts and ran to the door, snarling and barking, but no way was Max going to follow her. He would pretend no one was home.

He stayed out of sight, crouching behind the couch, listening while Jaden kept knocking. Max’s heart was banging wildly. What would Jaden do? Did he know Max was home? Would he break a window to get in? And what if he came inside? Where could Max hide? Maybe he should get a rolling pin to protect himself. Or a cricket bat. Or maybe Rosie would attack Jaden—she had sharp teeth and she hated him because of what he’d done to her pups. She must remember him throwing Bruiser up in the air.

Everything went quiet, and Max chanced a peek from behind the couch. Jaden was at the window. He had his hands up like goggles so he could see in. Max’s heart almost stopped. He sank back to the floor.

After a while, he heard footsteps leaving the porch. He checked the window again. Jaden had disappeared.

Now Rosie raced to the back door, growling, and the handle rattled. Max was so scared he thought he might vomit. It was lucky he’d locked the doors, or Jaden would be inside now, grabbing him by the neck and choking him. If he got in, Jaden might destroy the place and Max wouldn’t be able to stop him. Jaden’s black book of evidence meant Max couldn’t defend himself.