“What if they’re just bird-watchers?” Trevor said.
“In suits?” Summer replied doubtfully. “Here? Now? They look like government guys.”
“They look really similar,” Lindy said. “Maybe they’re clones.”
“We should start moving away from them,” Nate said. “We don’t need to run. We can just act like we’re heading home. If they chase us, then we can start using candy.”
“Sounds good to me,” Trevor seconded.
They turned and started marching away from Dead Man’s Run in a direction that would let them avoid the men in suits. Nate, Trevor, and Lindy walked their bikes so that Pigeon and Summer could keep pace.
“A moment of your time,” one of the men called.
Nate looked back. One of the men had his hands cupped around his mouth. The other was waving both hands over his head.
Nate stopped walking. “We need to get home,” he called.
“We have a mutual friend,” the man called back. “John Dart.”
Nate exchanged glances with his friends. They hadn’t heard from John in months.
“What do you think they want?” Pigeon asked.
“They could be faking,” Trevor warned. “They could be bad guys.”
“What do you want?” Nate hollered.
“Just a few words,” the man called back. “We know all about you. John is in trouble. We’re all on the same side.”
Nate looked to his friends again.
“If they found us here,” Summer said, “they’ll find us again.”
“Might as well get it over with,” Pigeon said.
“Stay ready for trouble,” Nate warned before raising his voice. “All right. Let’s talk.”
Reversing his direction, Nate led the others toward the heavyset men. The duo waited patiently as the kids approached. Their dark gray suits had faint pinstripes. The blue handkerchiefs peeking from their breast pockets matched their neckties. Both suits looked worn and a little rumpled. The men had stocky necks and wide builds, and both wore large black shoes. Their blunt faces were not handsome, with heavy eyebrows and fleshy lips. Weighty rings adorned each thick-fingered hand.
Nate stopped about five yards from the men. “Who are you guys?”
“We work with John Dart,” said the man on the left. His deep voice was slightly hoarse. He enunciated each word clearly.
“That isn’t an answer,” Summer pointed out.
The other man shrugged. “I’m Ziggy Battiato, and this is my brother Victor.”
“You’ve been watching us?” Nate asked.
“You’ve been sloppy,” Victor replied. “We’ve tailed you for three days. We know where each of you lives. We see you frequenting the Sweet Tooth Ice Cream and Candy Shoppe. We’ve seen you using magical enhancers out in the open.”
“We’re careful,” Pigeon protested.
“You take some rudimentary precautions,” Ziggy allowed. “But anyone intent on learning your secrets would have little trouble.”
“John is missing,” Victor said. “When did you last see him?”
Nate held out a hand for the others to keep silent. “How do we know you’re not bad guys using us for information on him?”