Chapter 9

CHAPTER nine, It had to be Wilkie. Leo had seen Fletch dive out the door. But not Wilkie. He must have gotten caught in that shower of bricks. Leo's heart pounded. Just a few minutes ago he would have prayed for Wilkie Barnes to get buried in a heap of rubble. But now he and Morris rushed over and started grabbing bricks off the pile on top of the bully.

The air was getting smokier. But Leo and Morris kept working until finally they could see Wilkie. He was turned on his side, his face hidden. Morris gently put his fingers against Wilkie's throat. "He's alive," Morris said. "I can tell that." But Wilkie still wasn't moving. And he was pinned under two huge roof beams. They formed an X over his body, protecting him from being completely crushed under the bricks. The beams had probably saved his life. But now they were like a cage that trapped him. Leo and Morris tried to lift one of the beams, but it was too heavy.

Leo looked around and saw that a house three doors down was on fire. Flames reached out of the windows, like bright orange arms trying to grab the houses all around it. Soon the street would be one huge fire. Leo had no idea what they should do. How could they leave Wilkie here, knowing he was alive? But if they stayed, the fire would kill them too! Suddenly, Wilkie lifted his head. With a mighty push, he knocked one of the beams away. His face, covered with dust, was stark white. Blood oozed from a gash on his forehead. He really did look like a monster. Leo and Morris watched in shock as Wilkie rose out of the rubble, tossing bricks aside like they were puffs of cotton. He stood up, dusted himself off, and looked around like he'd just woken up from a deep sleep. "Is Fletch alive?" he asked. "He got out," Leo said. Wilkie sighed in relief. But then he looked around.

"Then where is he?" he asked. "Where's Fletch?" "He left," Morris said. "He didn't try to get me out? He just took off without me?" Morris and Leo looked at each other. Neither wanted to say the truth: that Fletch had left Wilkie for dead in the rubble. But Wilkie figured this out. His expression suddenly changed to fury. He picked up a brick and hurled it toward the pile of rubble that had been the saloon. He did it again, and again, and again. His eyes bulged. He grunted and growled like the rabid dogs that roamed the alleys. And then finally Wilkie slumped down onto the ground, out of breath. He looked up at Leo and Morris. His eyes, set deep in his chubby face, were filled with confusion. His lip quivered, and Leo thought he might burst into tears. "When I was at that work camp in Seattle, a man came and said I should play football," Wilkie said. "There's a fancy school up there, where rich kids go. And he said I could go for free, that he'd

teach me everything I needed to know. He said I could be a champion. But I wouldn't go! Because I'd never leave Fletch. I went to jail because of Fletch. I stuck by him all these years. And where did it get me? Under that pile of bricks." Leo had no idea what to say. But Morris did. "Come with us," he offered. Wilkie looked at Morris and then at Leo. Leo got the idea that Wilkie had never really seen them before. He wiped the tears from his face and took a deep breath. He picked himself up. "We should get your gold back," he said. "Fletch said it was gone," said Leo. "Never believe Fletch," Wilkie said. "He has it. And I know where he went." Leo looked at Morris. "Let's go," Morris said.