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out again. “And the apartment key.”
    This time Kai hesitated. As if the meaning of his father’s words wasn’t completely obvious, Pat decided to spell it out for him. “This is the end, sonny boy I’ve had all the crap from you I’m gonna take. You don’t want to play on my team, fine. You go find another team. And that means another place to live.”
    â€œBefore I give you the key,” Kai said, “there are some things I’d like to get first.”
    Pat’s hand closed into a fist. “Make it fast.”

Five
    F or once Kai did as his father said. Almost as if he didn’t want to take the time to think too much about it for fear that he’d change his mind. He walked to the house with the basement apartment he and his father and Sean had recently moved into. On the way, he passed the Driftwood Motel. The office was dark and the no vacancy sign was on. Kai went a few more blocks, let himself into the apartment, got his things, and headed back to T-licious.
    By now it was late and Sun Haven had grown quiet. The stores had gone dark and the sidewalks were lit only by the orbs of streetlights. The lights were still on in T-licious, butthe store was empty and the door was locked. Sean and the Alien Frog Beast must have been in the back, counting the night’s take. Kai thought of knocking, then changed his mind. He slid the apartment key through the mail slot and turned away.
    He was free. Finally. Each step down the dark sidewalk felt light, as if he were walking on air. It felt good, but edgy and unsettling, too. For the first time in his life he was completely alone in the world. No one was concerned with his whereabouts, or his safety, or his health. From now on it was all on him, and him alone.
    He thought briefly about going to the Driftwood and asking Curtis if he could stay there for the night, but he remembered the office was closed and the no vacancy sign meant the motel was full. Instead he headed for the L. Baiter & Son funeral home and around to the parking lot in the back. Bean was his best shot at a place to stay that night. But when Kai got to the back of the funeral home, he stopped. In the moonlight he saw a second car parked next to Bean’s hearse. It was a black Mercedes-Benz station wagon with California license plates. The same one Kaihad seen parked in Spazzy’s driveway, the one belonging to Spazzy’s older sister. Kai looked up at Bean’s apartment on the second floor. The windows were dark.
    Kai felt a smile creep across his lips. So that was Bean’s non-life-threatening plan. Way to go, dude.
    On the other hand, it meant finding another place to stay. Kai walked back down the driveway to Main Street. There was one other possibility. He went down the block and looked up at the apartment over Tuck’s Hardware where Jade lived. Dull orange light flickered against the white curtains—inside a candle was burning. He crossed the street, went in the door next to the hardware store, and up the stairs.
    The door to Jade’s apartment was wooden and green. A crystal hung from a nail at eye level, as if containing some magic protective spell. Kai could hear soft music coming from inside. He touched the bell for an instant.
    Murmurs joined the soft music inside the apartment. Jade’s voice. Then another voice. Deeper. Male. Kai stepped back from the doorway and a few steps down the stairs, then waited.
    â€œWho is it?” Jade asked from inside.
    â€œKai. It’s nothing. Sorry to bother you. I’m going.”
    â€œNo, wait.”
    Kai heard the sound of a bolt sliding open, then the doorknob turned. Jade stuck her head out. She gave him a soft, concerned look. Her black silk robe caught the dim hall light. “Did you need something?”
    â€œNo.”
    Jade gave him a confused look.
    â€œI made a mistake,” Kai said.
    Jade’s eyes darted back into the apartment. Then she looked at Kai