Fifth-grader Adam Hollinger looked forward to an ordinary summer: All-Star baseball practice, reading comic books, begging his parents for a dog, and avoiding his mischievous older sister. But things get crazy when the Hollingers adopt two corgi puppies and the team’s star pitcher breaks his arm. Even worse, a serial burglar has been targeting the neighborhood, and the Hollingers’ house is on the list. When the adults of the town become stumped, it’s up to Adam and the puppies to set things straight.
Here and there light from a front porch spilled onto the road. Still, as he looked up, the trees took on sinister shapes. When the wind blew, a giant oak looked like a three-armed monster reaching out to grab him. And there was just enough of a crescent moon to show the filmy clouds hovering spookily in the sky, veiling the stars in a gossamer shade.
Adam shivered and turned on his flashlight. He felt like it was Halloween.
Zeph, on the other hand, was not afraid. His nose took over so that the darkness didn't bother him.
"You're braver than I am," Adam admitted as he shined the flashlight at the oak - just to make sure it was still an oak.
With that, Zeph let out a long, low groowwwl.
"What is it?" Adam gulped.
Zeph froze, his nose pointed toward the cul-de-sac. A moment later, Adam heard the shuffle-shuffle-shuffle of feet.
"Is somebody there?"
Adam pointed his flashlight in the direction of the noise. A jogger dressed in dark clothing shielded his eyes from the flashlight.
"Do you mind?" asked the jogger in an energetic - almost nervous - voice.
"Sorry," Adam said. "You scared me. Why are you jogging in the dark?"
"It's the best time," the man said hastily.
Adam shone the flashlight again on the man, but the man covered his face.
"It's dangerous to be out in such dark clothing. Especially with a burglar on the loose."
Adam pointed the flashlight once more at the stranger, but the man had already started jogging away.
