"Napped?" I repeated. "You mean, kidnapped?"

Claire let out a sob. "Yes."

The three boys ignored her cry and leaped up on the couch with a loud growl.

"Now, cut that out!" I ordered. "You're scaring Claire,"

"We're not trying to,"Jordan said, lowering his tennis racquet. He looked disappointed. "We're just playing Mutant Invaders from Outer Space."

"Well, play outside," I said, gesturing toward the backyard. "I have to finish my homework, and I'm going to need complete quiet."

"She's no fun," Byron mumbled, as he led Adam and Jordan through the hall and into the kitchen. "Let's go see if any other invaders have landed."

After the boys had gone, I made a move for the stairs but forgot that Claire was still hold-

ing onto my knees. "Claire, you can let go, now," I said, prying open her fingers. "The boogiemen are gone. Where's Mom?"

"I told you/' Claire murmured, rubbing her eyes with her fists. "They napped her."

"Where'd they take her?"

Claire pointed up, so I took her by the hand and led her to the foot of the stairs. "Let's see if we can find her."

As we climbed the carpeted stairs, I checked the mantel clock in the living room. Fifteen minutes had already passed since I'd left Jessi on the corner, and I'd barely gotten through the front door. That meant I was going to have to work really fast on my homework.

We peeked into my parents' room. Margo was sitting at my mother's dressing table. Two bright blue stripes were painted over her eyes, two red circles on her cheeks, and her lips were smeared with orange lipstick.

Claire saw Margo and clapped her hands. "Look how pretty she is! I want to do that!"

"Oh, no, you don't!" I said. "I don't think Mommy would like you to use her makeup. In fact," I added for Margo's benefit, "she's not going to be very happy when she sees what Margo's done to her face."