“You’re positive they sleep in the daytime?” Amos asked nervously.

“Hold this toolbelt.” Dunc pushed up the kitchen window. “That’s what all the experts say.”

Amos looked at his watch. “We don’t have all that much time left before dark. Maybe we should come back another time—like in a couple of years.”

“We have plenty of time. It won’t be dark for at least an hour. Here, I’ll give you a hand up.”

“Hold it.” Amos turned to face him. “You’re coming too, right?”

“Of course, Amos. I’m right behind you. You don’t think I’d let you do something this dangerous by yourself, do you?”

Amos’s eyes narrowed.

“Okay,” Dunc admitted. “There was that one time you had to face that wild bull on my uncle’s ranch.”

Amos waited.

“And I suppose you could count the time down at the waterfront when you had to wait in the alley while I checked on some clues and that gang with the switchblades just happened along.”

Amos waited.

“All right. Maybe I have asked you to do a couple of semidangerous things, but they were all for a good cause.”

“That’s what you always tell me—just before something terrible happens to me.”

“Nothing terrible is going to happen. I told you. Vampires are powerless during the daytime. All we have to do is get down to the basement and nail the coffin shut and our worries are over. Simple.”

“Nothing with you is ever simple.”

Dunc cupped his hands. “This time it’ll be a piece of cake, Amos. Trust me.”

Amos stepped up into Dunc’s boost and put his leg through the open window. “I’d have felt a whole lot better about doing this if you hadn’t said that last part.” He hopped into the kitchen, set the toolbelt on the counter, and reached down to help pull Dunc in.

Inside, Dunc took a flashlight out of the toolbelt and snapped it on. “This time we’ll be able to tell for sure what’s down there.”

“After you.” Amos held open the door to the basement.

“What a gentleman.” Dunc started down the dirt steps. “Pee-eeww. The smell didn’t improve while we were gone.” He pointed the light at the floor. “Gross. The bat poop is at least an inch deep. Watch your step, Amos. Amos?” Dunc turned the flashlight toward the steps. “What are you doing up there? Aren’t you coming down?”

“I figured there wasn’t a lot of sense in both of us getting that stuff all over our shoes. I’ll just wait here till you’re done.”

“Come on, Amos. I’ve got two hammers; the job will go faster if you help.”

“Oh, all right. But that goop better wash off. These are my best tennis shoes.”

Dunc shined the light around the room. In the center was a long, polished wooden coffin. “It’s here, Amos. Just like you said.”

“Of course it is. Even I wouldn’t make something like that up.”

“Well, let’s get started. Grab a hammer. We’ll have this job done and be out of here before you know it.”

Dunc started at one end and Amos at the other. In a few minutes they had the lid nailed down tight.

“There.” Dunc wiped his hands and put his hammer in the toolpouch. “C.D. won’t be bothering your sister or anyone else ever again.” He grabbed the flashlight from the top of the coffin and started for the stairs.

“Ouch!” Amos yelled. “Something’s got my neck!”

Dunc spun around. He pointed the light at Amos just in time to see him drop facefirst to the floor.