Casey shuts her bedroom door and rushes to the living room. Having just finished talking to Casey's parents, nanny Dottie leaves with a goodbye wave for Casey. Casey hugs her father and mother, uneasy after Scout told her about having to show her father how much she loves him. Patrick extricates himself and reaches for the phone.

"I'm calling for take-out. Tell me what you want or I'll get snails and frog legs," he mock threatens, smiling because he already knows what his two girls will want. The way to their hearts definitely goes through their stomachs, at least at dinnertime.

"Pizza," Lisbon says, going along with what her daughter always wants.

"Yea! Pizza wins!" Casey yells. She does a little dance with her mom to celebrate their victory over a mollusk and amphibian repast while her father makes the call. She shucks socks and shoes, tossing them by the front door, and plops down next to her mother on the couch.

"How was school today? Did you get much homework?"

"I have some math, but it's easy, and I need to write a book report." She makes a face.

Jane joins them on the couch and gives Casey a kiss on the top of her head. "What was the book, Squirt?"

"I'm not a squirt! The Road Ahead. It's about Bill Gates and our future." Never missing an opportunity she adds, "And when can I have a computer so I don't have to use Mommy's?" looking up at her father.

He taps her forehead and fakes looking worried. "Hmm, must be a serious case of memory loss. As I said before, when you are seven. Until then, use our home computer." Casey frowns at that unwelcome reminder. "Casey, you only have four months to go. It will be here before you know it."

"Well it doesn't hurt to ask." She smiles at Daddy. "I'm going to my room and start on my report, it is due on Monday." She dashes away, back to her room. "Yea, pizza!" echoes down the hall. The couple on the couch listens as Casey goes into her room and shuts the door.

Lisbon shakes her head ruefully. "Did we ever have that much energy?"

He hugs her waist gently. "We did. But I think our daughter is a dangerous energy sink. We should warn the EPA. Or maybe Department of Energy."

"Why not let her have a computer now?"

"Glass of wine?" he asks rising from the couch. "Miss Parker recommends waiting until Casey is eight. She doesn't want Casey playing card games on the internet instead of doing her lessons."

Lisbon follows Jane into the kitchen. "And just who taught her how to play Internet poker? You showed her how to get on the computer and play poker with people she doesn't know." She takes two wine glasses from the cabinet as her husband opens a bottle from the refrigerator.

"Lisbon, you would have been thrilled. She wiped out all six people at the table she was playing."

Struggling to disapprove despite pride, "At least it wasn't for real money."

Patrick pours the wine, hands her a glass and gives her a kiss before she sips. "Who knows? When we're old and gray she can support us in in the style we're used to." He grins.

"I had hopes she'd be a doctor or lawyer or something. Not a card shark," Lisbon grumbles. "And you make it really difficult to stay annoyed." Both drift back into the living room.

"Always do my best, dear," he replies with a smirk. "Doctors - ugh. And lawyers are weasels in suits." He settles back on the couch and changes gears. "Did the team learn more about the woman buried in the park?"

"The picture in the locket wasn't in good shape. Wiley wants to play around with it, hopes to clean it up. The coroner said there were fractures in her rib cage, and it looked like her right arm was broken twice. I have a feeling she was killed by someone she knew, possibly an abusive husband. Not much to go on."

In Casey's bedroom the girls are undressing and dressing some of the dolls. Scout keeps picking out new dresses, not making her mind up on which one to put on the doll she is playing with.

"I told my folks I had a book report to do. I'll leave the table early and ask if I can take some pizza with me," Casey says as she combs her doll's hair.

"Will they let you have more than one piece?"

"They won't care if I take some to my bedroom so long as I bring back the empty plate. I could ask for more milk, but they would be too surprised. I hate milk."

"I can drink water. I don't want you to get in trouble," Scout says as she puts down the doll she is dressing. "Maybe I should just go home, Casey. You don't have to do this for me. Maybe my father won't be home until late and will be too tired to wake me up."

"No, you're not going to do that. I just need a little time." There is a knock on her door, Scout rushes to the closet and closes the door as quick as a rabbit.

"Come in." She calls. Her father sticks his head in. "Pizza's here. Better hurry or mom will eat it all and I'll have to order those snails."

Casey jumps off her bed and joins him. "Oh, no! We better hurry."

Later, the family has pretty much finished with the pizza and is just talking.

"Isn't that hockey game on tonight, Mommy? The first game of the playoffs?"

Jane looks at his daughter and groans. To Lisbon, "I thought we could just relax tonight, sweetheart."

"We can after the game, sweetheart," she says joking. "It might go to overtime, but I doubt it since the other team is so weak." Lisbon gets up and starts cleaning off the table.

Casey makes her father bend down to her. "Sorry Daddy." She gives him a quick kiss on his cheek.

He smiles and stands to help Lisbon. "Guess what we're going to do tomorrow."

Casey looks happy and takes her father's hand and begs, "Tell me, Daddy, tell me."

"What was that movie you really wanted to see?"

She squeals, "We're going to see Sing!"

Lisbon turns and smiles as Casey jumps into her father's arms. "I take it that's the right movie."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Well that's l lucky since we want to see it too." He puts Casey down and takes some dishes to the kitchen counter.

Casey blinks, remembering her promise to Scout, and says in a rush, "Mommy, can I take a couple of slices of pizza to my room so I can work on my report and I'll remember to bring the plate back before I go to bed?"

"Thought you were full?"

"Working on a report makes me hungry. "

"Don't eat it on the bed, sit at your desk." Lisbon says as she takes a plate and puts two of the smaller slices on it.

Casey takes the plate and skips out of the kitchen. The last things she hears are her parents kissing and her father asking, "You're sure you want to watch that game?"

Casey shuts her bedroom door and listens for a few minutes. She then opens the closet door and pushes the button to release the rabbit hole door. Scout looks up, brightening at the sight of the plate. Casey hands her the plate and both girls sit on the floor of the small room. Scout looks happy as she eats the pizza. She's warm, eating food, and feeling safe.

After Scout finishes the pizza and a glass of water, Casey looks at her thoughtfully.

"My folks are talking me to a movie tomorrow. I have a plan so you can see it too."

"A movie. I've only seen them on TV. My father watches really bad movies. I usually go into my room."

"You'll like this one. Here's what you have to do. You have to be very careful to follow what I tell you. In the morning before they get up I'll take you to my mother's car. It's big. There are blankets in the back and you need to hide under the blankets."

"Won't they look?"

"Nope, no reason to. I'll show you how to unlock the car so you can get out, and how to lock it back up so nobody knows. When we are ready to leave you have to be quiet. I'll leave something for breakfast in the car, something good. We'll get to the movie theater and I'll go away with Mommy and Daddy. You get out, lock the car, and go to the ticket booth. Get in the longest line so nobody will really notice you. Buy a ticket for the ten o'clock showing of 'Sing.' I'll give you enough money for candy and soda too. Be sure to sit near some adults so it looks like you're with adults and other kids. When it's over, wait until we leave and then you can leave. There is a bus stop down the street. I looked it up today and there is a bus that leaves at two. Try to follow a woman with kids if you can. When you pay for the bus look at the woman and tell the bus driver your mommy said you can pay for your ticket since you're a big girl. The driver will smile because adults will think it's cute. Get off the bus at the stop after my house. We probably won't be home yet since we usually go out for lunch. I will give you the key my father leaves by the kitchen door. When you unlock the door there is a panel just inside by the door." Casey hands her a slip of paper. "Put these numbers in and hit a button that says 'home.' That turns off the alarm."

"Casey, you're gonna get in trouble if they find out. I don't want to do that," Scout objects, almost in tears.

"You can do this, Scout, I know you can. Now one more thing and we'll be okay."

Scout takes a deep breath and nods. "Where will you get the money?"

Casey points to a piggy bank on her dresser. "They put their change in it. I haven't used any so there is a lot of money." She turns back to face Scout with the last instructions. "When you close the front door you have to lock it, go back to the panel, put in the same numbers as before and wait until it says 'armed.' Put the key on the counter by the door. If you're hungry get food from the fridge - left over pizza if you want. Take a couple of cartons of fruit juice to drink and go back to my room. When you hear us drive up go into the rabbit hole. Okay?"

Scout looks at her in disbelief. "If you're sure I can do this … okay."

Casey looks at her and smiles. "Daddy always says, 'You never say you can't.' Instead say, 'You will try.' Um, can you go in the room now? I really do have a book report to do before school on Monday and Mommy or Daddy will be in before I go to sleep. You can watch TV if you want. Channel 47 on the remote shows really nice Disney movies. I'll talk to you before I have to go to bed. After my parents are in bed, we can get to the bathroom and wash up and stuff." Since Scout is about her size, Casey will give her pj's to sleep in and clothes for tomorrow.

Scout grabs Casey for a hug then hustles to the closet and closes the rabbit hole door.

Casey is satisfied her plan is solid. As she pulls out the book for the report her eyes gleam. Now she needs to figure out their next adventure.