“I don’t believe it. Of all the places we had to go for help, it was there— and he’s in with the gang!”

The Boss. Here in the small, peaceful village where they thought they were finally, finally safe. Heading straight for the door of Amberside’s tiny, one-room police station.

No no no….

“Avi, let’s call the police officer, let’s get outside!” Elchanan exclaimed, grabbing his arm.

Avi shook his head, desperately trying to calm his racing thoughts. “Wait. Wait, Elchanan. We can’t do that. Officer Brown — he’s just one man, I don’t think he even has a gun on him. The Boss is armed. We can’t go out there — that would be crazy. Besides, we’ll never reach the officer in time — the reporters are so tightly packed together….”

“But — but if we can’t go out the front door… do you think there’s another way out of here?”

Mrs. Brown came hurrying down the stairs. Avi opened his mouth, thinking of asking her for help — maybe she could bolt the doors, do something to buy some time — but the officer’s wife didn’t even stop to say anything — she rushed straight past them and out of the door, breathless. She nearly ran straight into the Boss, who was now approaching the driveway, a thin, stooped, white-haired figure right behind him.

“Hey — that’s the store owner!” Elchanan cried. His grip on Avi’s arm tightened. “I don’t believe it. Of all the places we had to go for help, it was there— and he’s in with the gang!”