Footsteps crossed the parking lot. For a moment it seemed as if they were heading toward the van. Then, nearby, the children heard a car door open. It stayed open for what seemed like a very long time. Then the car door shut and the footsteps moved away, back across the parking lot and out toward the soccer field. Jessie let out a long, slow sigh of relief. She stood up so she could see through the van’s window. Robert was walking back toward the soccer field carrying his gear bag. “Whew,” said Henry. “It’s a good thing we weren’t looking in Stan’s car. Robert must have forgotten his gear bag.” “Yes. And he would have caught us for sure,” said Jessie. “Maybe we should go,” suggested Violet nervously. “There aren’t any clues here.” The Aldens looked around the parking lot. But no one was there. In the distance, they could see Robert walking toward his team, still holding his gear bag. The Aldens left the parking lot as fast as they could without running. They had just reached the far end of the soccer field where the Bears were going to play the Rockets, when Soo Lee said, “There he is.”
