Herb knew she was smart. He watched the patrol car drive a loop around the block for the 5th time. She’d put the arsons together, picked up on the subtle clues, and was nervous. This was going to make things a little more difficult, but no matter, the doll would work from a distance. It was just that, he wanted to see her face. The moment had to be perfect.

He tilted the seat all the way back in the car he’d rented and parked two houses up from hers. He set his watch alarm for early morning so he’d wake for the next phase of his plan. He let himself relax with old thoughts, memories really.

Ms. DuPrau stood at the front of the room, chalk in hand, pre-cal problems scrawled down the board behind her. “You’re never going to get this, Herbert! Even if you join a study group! It’s a parabola, not a line!” Her face contorted in anger, and grew closer and closer to him. She sat at her desk now, grading papers. “Herbert!” He looked at her stern eyes. The box marked Not Recommended was checked.