"Dad?" Alland whispered softly while keeping himself from moving when Eryk threatened him with a dagger.

"Eryk, get down!" Mr. Jarvis once again called him from downstairs.

Eryk felt his heartbreak. Time and time again, he felt cheated and betrayed by those he trusted.

"You directed your father here?"

"Not!" Alland said with conviction. His face looked pale. "No, I didn't do that!"

Eryk hissed beside Alland. The boy was almost up to Eryk's chest, and he could easily see Alland's expression.

"I swear, Eryk. I didn't bring him here. He must have followed me secretly."

While still threatening Alland with the dagger, Eryk peeked out of the nest. His heart sank at that time too. There were a lot of cops down there—at least three of them circling the tree with Mr. Jarvis.

"I saw that young man!" said one of the policemen, touching the gun at his waist.

"Don't use it!" said Mr. Jarvis fiercely. "We don't know what he was