…Terror held me captive. I was too stunned to move.

The Watcher had found out where I lived. And you can bet he wasn't here to invite me to the St. Patrick's dance. What should I do? Run into the house and scream for my parents? But to get to the front door, I'd have to step into the light that streamed from our house windows. He would see me. I would be helpless to hide from him.

It would be safer to go around through the backyard. If The Watcher tried to follow me, Jasper wouldn't attack, but he would bark and jump up excitedly. That would give me time to race into the house and alert Mom and Dad. I reached up for the latch on the side gate…then froze when I heard an odd clanking sound. Something metal had dropped to the pavement. I heard him swear.

Then I saw him. Dark-blond hair tucked under a knitted black cap, and dark glasses half-covering his face. He held a small object in his hands that reflected light when he moved. He peered around furtively, staying close to Mom's car. What was he doing here? Was he coming after me?

Before he could spot me, I ducked behind a bush. I held my breath and said a quick prayer. My heart was a noisy band pounding in my head and I just knew he'd hear me. But he didn't seem to notice. His gaze swept in the opposite direction.

Then he stepped back and melted into night shadows.