"Jimmy's mom is a stay at home mother, right?" Libby asked, keeping her voice down. She knew it was ridiculous, but cutting out early made her nervous. She kept expecting to run into a cop or her own mother.

"Yeah, so?"

"So she's probably home right now. Are you going to sneak in? I mean, she might tell your mom about us cutting class. How are we going to get in without her seeing us?"

"Since she's home all day and Retroville's crime rate isn't that high, she keeps the door unlocked."

"How do you know that?"

"...I just know, ok? We'll go through the front door - Jimmy told me she's usually working in the garage around this time. If we run into her...we'll deal with it when or if it happens. Just be very quiet."

Both Cindy and Libby felt like the porch of the Neutron's house was squeaking with every step. Of course, the truth was that the girls were being perfectly silent other than turning to one another every few moments to shush each other, both of them convinced the other girl was too loud. Cindy had been right. The door was not locked. They both let out a sigh of relief when they saw that Mrs. Neutron did not appear to be in the living room.

"Ok, we just have to go up to Jimmy's room and see if he has any hairs there."

"Have you ever been in Jimmy's room?" Libby asked, with a little more curiosity than Cindy would have liked. Cindy rolled her eyes.

"No, I have never been in Neutron's room. And this is an emergency, or I'd never go in there now. Have you ever been in Sheen's room?"

"Of course not!"

"Then how did you know he has Ultra Lord covers?"

"It's Sheen. Everything he owns is Ultra Lord themed. Even his shampoo."

"How did you know it was the one where he's fighting his evil twin, then?"

"...shut up." Libby frowned at her friend, but followed her up the stairs, both of them resuming their tip toe walk. It seemed to take forever to reach the top, but they made their way to his room without any incidents.

"Ok, so he must have a hair brush around here somewhere..." Cindy looked around, starting with the dresser. "How is this place such a mess?! He hasn't even been here for a month."

"I don't see a hair brush. I'll check the bathroom."

Cindy nodded her agreement, resuming her search for anything that might hold one of Jimmy's hairs. She checked under his bed – nothing. As she rose to her feet, something caught her eye. On Jimmy's bed side table was a picture of her, apparently from when she had been on the news program with the other kids, judging by the outfit. In spite of everything, she allowed herself a small smile.

"Nothing. Looks like he has some sort of machine that does his hair, but I couldn't find any actual hairs in it." Libby hung her head in defeat as she came out to join Cindy. "You're right, though, how does he have this many shirts laying around? And pants...pants everywhere. How hard is it to pick them up?"

"Hard enough he had to create a microchip to make them hang themselves."

"Ugh, do not even remind me of that day," Libby shuddered. "I never want to see those boys in their underwear ever again."

Cindy suddenly went very still. "Clothes...his clothes!"

"Yeaaaaah," Libby said slowly. "we're in Jimmy's room, so all of the clothes here are his. And I don't think they've been washed in a while."

Cindy grabbed one of the shirts and checked the collar. No luck. She moved onto the next one and then one after that – the third one was the lucky one. She held up a brown hair triumphantly. "One step closer to the boys."

"Yeah, but we still have to figure out the first step."

"I'm working on it."

Cindy had her head down as she pondered over what to do next, which is why she didn't realize that she was about to run straight into Mrs. Neutron. Cindy fell back, but Libby caught her. Mrs. Neutron stood at the bottom of the stairs, gazing at the girls in a startled manner.

"Um...hi, Mrs. Neutron."

"Shouldn't you girls be in school?"

"Early release," Libby suggested. "You know how it is. The teachers have to prepare for the next time aliens attack, or a meteor is about to crash. Or any other world is about to end kind of thing."

Cindy held back an eye roll, and reminded herself to tell Libby later she was spending too much time with Sheen. "We're just trying to find ways to get them back."

"Girls, you don't have to do all that. Though I do wonder why you thought the answer might be in Jimmy's room?" Mrs. Neutron paused, waiting for an answer.

"Can't leave any stone unturned," Cindy laughed, but winced at how unnatural it sounded.

Judy sighed. "Do you want something to eat? You should probably stay here until school ends. Cindy, I know your mother would be incredibly upset if she found out you'd left school early."

Cindy had to admit that she was right. There was no way her mother would be okay with this if she found out. It was likely Cindy would be grounded for weeks on end, and that would take even more time away from finding Jimmy and the others.

"Thanks, Mrs. Neutron," Cindy went to sit in the kitchen with Libby following close after.

"Ah, Cindy, Libby!" Hugh was sitting at the kitchen table already, absently pushing his pie around the plate. "Good of you to come see us. This uh...this pie's good..." he hadn't touched more than a bite, by Cindy's estimate. The same worried look over came both girls' faces. The one thing they really knew about Hugh Neutron was that the man loved his pie.

"Mr. Neutron, I thought you usually worked at this time?" Libby asked, sliding into a chair at the table.

"Sugar booger needs me home sometimes these days. With uh...with Jim-Jam..." he trailed off and stared intently at his pie. "It's boysenberry apple. One of my favorites. Really good. You should take a few bites."

"Are you all right, Mr. Neutron?" Cindy finally asked. She knew better. She knew he wasn't. But if Judy was reacting poorly, Hugh seemed completely on another planet by comparison.

"Oh, yes. Just gotta look on the bright side," he considered it for a few moments. "Haven't had to buy a new toaster for a few weeks."

"Toaster?" Cindy repeated. "Toaster..."

"Toaster?" Libby was asking both Hugh, because she wasn't certain what it had to do with anything, and Cindy whose face had suddenly lit up. Libby wasn't sure she liked the look in Cindy's eyes right now. It often meant trouble.

"Yeah. Our Jimmy kept using them for his inventions. And satellites. I'm sorry, girls. I guess I don't have much to say." He forced himself to swallow another bite of pie. "Did you want a slice?"

"No, Mr. Neutron," Cindy hopped up from her chair. "Libby and I have to get going."

"Actually, I don't think I'd mind a slice -" Libby started, but Cindy grabbed her by the arm and yanked her up.

"As I was saying, none for us, thanks. And thank you for letting us stay over." Cindy glanced at the clock. Good. It's close enough to three that I can make it home without it looking suspicious. She thought to herself, continuing to pull Libby after her. When they left the Neutron's, Cindy continued to drag Libby in the direction of the Vortex house, almost not remembering to look both ways before they crossed the street.

"Girl, can we please slow down?! What is gong on and why couldn't it wait until after a slice of pie?" A sudden realization hit Libby. "You've got an idea on how to find the boys!"

"I've got an idea on how to start the process. Whether or not it will work...we'll have to see."