"Anyway… leave the rest to us. Lloyd, you go home and get some rest. We'll talk about everything else later."
Then, Judge Riggs lowered his voice, placing a hand on Lloyd's shoulder and adding in a whisper,
"And remember, no matter who comes looking for you tonight, do not open the door!"
Only after seeing Lloyd nod did he pat him on the shoulder and let go.
And so, Lloyd headed straight home.
After all the chaos and delays, it was already past 9 PM by the time he got home. Worried that his sister might be hungry, he had stopped by a pastry shop on the way and bought the three desserts they both loved most—
Croissants, crescent rolls, and butterhorns.
When he got home and opened the door, he found Evelor curled up on the sofa, fast asleep.
She was wearing a fuzzy, one-piece set of pajamas—a cartoon alligator. Her head poked right out of the alligator's mouth, making her look endearingly goofy and exceptionally cute.
