At seven fifty-seven, four minutes before the Brentwood train was due to depart, the boys left the restaurant and sauntered down to the head of the stairway leading to Track Ten. At exactly eight o’clock they walked down the stairs, stopping at the bottom to make sure they were still being followed.
“All aboard!” the conductor was calling. “All aboard!”
The boys entered the car nearest them and began to walk toward the front of the train. Through the windows they caught a glimpse of Cal, keeping pace with them along the platform.
As they entered the next car there was a slight lurch, and then another. The train was starting to move. The boys sank down into an empty seat.
An instant later Ken leaped up. “O.K. We’ve left him. Come on.” He ran toward the forward end of the car with Sandy
