It wasn't just one; the doorway was crowded with people. Some taller, some shorter. Some of them looked rather young, about high school age, and some of them were older.

At the front stood a man who was clearly the leader; he was tall, had a beard and mustache, and wore a mask. He also had a symbol on the both sides of his neck.

He was Van Del, the leader of the Wall Dogs.

"Holy crap," said Maddy. "That's a lot."

"No kidding," added Derek.

As the Wall Dogs crowded into the room, Maddy was able to count them and came up with seven, eight when Van Del was included.

Dr. Minyak turned to the group. "Care to introduce yourselves?"

One of the Wall Dogs stepped forward. "Uh, hi, my name is Spray Z, and I-"

"We do not need to introduce ourselves," interrupted Van Del. Spray Z stepped back. "Surely you know who we are." He eyed Derek, Maddy and Jeff. (He didn't notice the floating glasses, nor did the pack of Wall Dogs.)

"Um…." Maddy didn't want to be the one to say it. "We, um, we do not."

Van Del looked noticeably annoyed. "Wha- oh, okay, fine, I suppose we'll do introductions. I am Van Del, leader of the Wall Dogs."

One by one, the others stepped up. Captain Man and Kid Danger might have been able to name a few from when the captured the gang; Spray Z was the one who wore the eyepatch, having had an unfortunate experience with a laser. Two Canz had the grey beanie and the snappy attitude. Beyonspray wore a pair of goggles over his beanie. Then there was T-Paint, and the others who had never been named. They were The Sprayer, PaintAbby, and Candace. The Wall Dogs still stood by their belief that they were artists, not criminals, but they hated Captian Man and Kid Danger enough that they were willing to join the cause. Plus, they didn't mind having to get violent.

"So you guys are the Wall Dogs," said Maddy once everyone had been named. "Kid Danger tricked you all and threw you in jail a few years ago, right?"

"Yeah," answered Spray Z.

"Not too long after you guys were thrown into the big house," spoke up Candace.

"Most of us were transferred for being... uncooperative a few times," added PaintAbby, smirking as if being transferred was something to be proud of. "Saw you every now and then. Respect for the food fights, by the way."

"Thanks," said Maddy cautiously.

"So I assume you already know we're Derek and Maddy Richards," said Derek. "You guys know Jeff?"

"Of course," said Two Canz. "Everybody knows Jeff."

"Yeah, because I'm awesome."

"No, because you're lame."

"Ha!" Invisible Brad let out a giant laugh, causing everyone to jump, particularly the Wall Dogs. "Who was that?" T-Paint asked.

"Just me," said Brad. The Wall Dogs traced his voice and finally noticed the pair of glasses that seemed to be floating in midair. "Wassup, I'm Brad, and I hate Captain Man and Kid Danger. Especially Kid Danger."

"Us too," said Candace cautiously. "It's because of that little-"

"As much as I'd love to stand here and insult Kid Dumpster," interrupted Minyak, "this is no time for trash talk. We finally have enough people here to move on to Phase Two."

The Wall Dogs and other chattered excitedly. Then Spray Z raised his hand. "Um, what exactly is Phase Two?"

"Phase Two," said Minyak with a smile, "is what you are all getting up bright and early for. I will explain your assignments tomorrow."

There was collective groaning, but no one dared to complain. Dr. Minyak dismissed everyone, telling them to meet in the gym "not a second after seven."

Because who doesn't like getting up early?

"Piper, for the last time, I'm not doing it."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"BECAUSE WHY?!"

Henry hadn't been super happy to find that his parents decided to make him watch Piper when he got home do they could go out. Naturally, they're a pain in the butt to each other. It gets worse whenever someone wants something.

This time, it was Piper.

"Please, Henry?" Piper begged. "Don't you want to spend quality time with your baby sister?"

To clear things up, Piper had decided to start planning her costume for Halloween, even though there were still a few weeks to go. She wanted to go as a unicorn… except it only came as a two-person costume.

Figured it out yet?

"Piper, I am not dressing up as a unicorn's butt for Halloween. Charlotte, Jasper and I are going as something together. Besides, you only want me to come so I can hold your stuff."

"You don't know that!"

"Uh, actually, yes, I do. Besides, weren't you thinking about going as a Fresno Girl Doll?"

"FINE." Piper stomped upstairs and slammed her door.

"Love you!" Henry called up.

"WHO CARES?!"

Henry rolled his eyes. Piper had fits all the time; he knew she'd cool down.

He grabbed to bowl of cereal he had been preparing for himself and headed for the couch, but stopped. Not because his parents would kill him if the couch got stained with milk, but because he was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of paranoia. He stopped and listened. Nothing.

Trying to shake off his nerves, he sat down next to his favorite pillow, the one with the dog, and was about to eat when the front door suddenly swung open.

"Ahh!" Henry jumped and some cereal milk went flying, narrowly missing the couch. He looked up at the door. "Charlotte?! Don't do that, you scared me!"

"Sorry," said Charlotte apologetically. "But I have to- wait, where's your family?"

"Piper's upstairs throwing a fit, and my parents went somewhere and are making me watch her. Why?"

"Come here." She practically shoved him down onto the couch, causing more milk to spill. Henry finally set it down on the coffee table and Charlotte began talking. "I just got a text from Schwoz, the cops found some stray hairs outside the prison."

"Okay…. So?"

"So he ran some tests on them and they belong to Jeff! We may have just found a huge clue- the hairs were found about a quarter mile South from the prison."

Henry finally put it together and snapped his fingers. "Which means we may have the general direction of where Jeff went!"

"Exactly!"

"Alright!"

"What are you two so happy about?"

Henry and Charlotte jumped- they hadn't realized Piper was standing on the stairs.

Shoot shoot shoot shoot. "Nothing," said Charlotte, desperately trying to improvise. "Henry… just… got a grade back for an essay and did really well."

"Yeah," agreed Henry, who couldn't have come up with that excuse on his own. Seriously, they all needed to take improv classes, or something.

"Yeah, whatever." Piper rolled her eyes and, without another word, walked down, retrieved her phone from where she had left it, and went back upstairs.

"That was close," said Charlotte once she was gone.

"Yeah," agreed Henry.

Their excitement had faded, having temporarily been replaced by fear, and Charlotte left. Henry stayed downstairs in front of TV until his parents came home, and everyone in the neighborhood went to bed in peace.

Because, of course, they still had no idea what was growing under their noses.

Guest: Actually, I almost did bring in Drill Finger this week!

Ciao, and Happy Reading!