him.”
“There’s a peephole,” Taylor said. “He won’t open the door with all of us standing here.”
“He’s dialing again,” Ian said.
Taylor focused again.
“Got him,” Ian said.
“You’re right,” I said to Taylor. “But if it’s just you standing here, he’ll open. Everyone against the wall.”
Taylor looked at me. “What am I supposed to say when he answers?”
“You’ll think of something. Just get him to open the door.” I looked back. “Everyone ready?”
Jack nodded. “Bring it on.”
I rang the doorbell.
A few seconds later, Ian said, “He’s coming. He’s got a gun.”
Taylor looked at me fearfully.
“Is he holding it?” I asked.
“No,” Ian said. “It’s in his holster.”
The peephole darkened. Then a gruff voice asked, “Who is it?”
We all looked at Taylor.
“Uh, good afternoon. I’m selling Girl Scout Cookies.”
“Girl Scout Cookies?” I mouthed. Taylor shrugged.
“Not interested,” the man said.
“He’s leaving,” Ian said.
Just then the door across the hall from us opened. An old man wearing a brown terry cloth robe scowled at us. “What are you kids up to?”
Before I could answer, Zeus zapped him. The man dropped to the ground like a bowling ball.
“You didn’t have to shock him,” Taylor said.
“What was I supposed to do?” Zeus said.
I put my ear to the man’s chest to make sure he was okay. “His heart’s still beating. Jack, help me get him back inside.”
We dragged the man into his apartment, then shut the door behind us.
“The dude’s back at the window,” Ian said.
“Got him,” Taylor said, rebooting him. She turned to me. “Let’s try again. I think I’ve got something better this time.”
I rang the doorbell.
“He’s coming,” Ian said.
We all leaned back against the wall.
“You’re gulping,” Taylor said to me.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“Who’s there?” the man asked.
“Hatch sent me,” Taylor said coolly.
“Who?”
“Hatch.”
There was a slight pause, then the man began sliding the dead bolt. Jack leaned forward, ready to charge the door.
Suddenly the man stopped. “You’re not supposed to use that name,” he said. “How do I know you’re with Hatch?”
Taylor swallowed. “How else would I know where you were?”
“What’s the password?”
“The password?” Taylor said. She looked at me.
“Taylor,” Ian whispered. “He’s touching the doorknob.”
“Oh,” she said slowly, “the password.” She grabbed the doorknob and concentrated. “It’s . . . it’s . . . Idaho.”
There was a short, silent pause, then the man said, “All right.” He finished unlocking the dead bolt. As he started to open the door, Jack rushed against it, knocking the man backward. The guy reached for his gun, but Zeus zapped him. The shock knocked Jack down as well.
“Man,” Jack said, climbing to his knees. “Watch where you point that thing.”
“Sorry,” Zeus said.
We all scrambled inside, locking the door behind us. I knelt down next to the man. He was tall with a black mustache and beard. “Taylor, come see what they’re up to.”
Taylor crouched down next to me, put her hands on the man’s temples, then closed her eyes. After a moment she said, “He’s just the lookout. There are six Elgen guards waiting for us in one of the apartments across the street.”
“Which apartment?”
“Just a minute.” She touched him again. “One-seventeen.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
“That’s not good,” I said.
“What’s wrong with one-seventeen?” Zeus asked.
“That’s Ostin’s place.”
“W hat do we do with him?” Taylor asked, looking down at the guard. “We can’t just leave him here. If he wakes up he’ll warn the others.”
I took his cell phone and pulsed. The phone lit up, then burned out, a wisp of smoke rising from its keypad. “He won’t be using that again,” I said, tossing the phone aside.
“He can still come after us,” Ian