Another diesel engine rumbled. Colleen yelped as the school bus flew past and dashed away. “Hey, wait!” Ru called after her.

“I have to get to the house before the bus does!”

Ru glanced back at the man’s house just in time to see the front door shut. She would never be able to close the gap between herself and her friend — Colleen had a very long stride — but she wasn’t about to confront the man alone. She took off after the bus.