Chapter 50Cautiously, Billy and Dave crept along the front of the house, taking care to crouch below the level of the wide bay window. Both partners braced themselves against the siding, for the mud underfoot was treacherous; in some places, the surface was so slippery that their feet skated and threatened to shoot out from under them.
When they had crossed three quarters of the window's length, Billy paused, thrust a hand back to signal Dave to stop and wait. As he'd done before, around the corner, Billy pressed his ear against the siding and listened; shivering, Dave mimicked the motion, strained but heard nothing from beyond the wall.
Pulling his ear from the siding, Billy shook his head; slowly, then, he raised himself from his crouch, edged his face toward the rim of the window.
