EMMET GOT OFF THE BUS AT THE STOP CLOSEST TO DR. Newton’s address. According to his Internet search, the teacher lived on a cul-de-sac on the south side of the city. It made Emmet wonder for a moment. There was only one listing for a Dr. Peter Newton in Florida City in any of the online directories. But if Dr. Newton was so wealthy, why did he live in a tiny little house in a nondescript neighborhood? Wouldn’t he have a ginormous mansion somewhere?

Emmet thought about this as he followed the map on his cell phone’s screen. Newton was a fairly common name. Maybe there was another Peter Newton and the Newt’s address just wasn’t listed. Perhaps he didn’t live here at all. As he continued, Emmet tried to talk himself back into it. Dr. Newton lived in a tiny house because it saved space. Stopping habitat destruction was a big part of the environmental movement.

It was about a ten-minute walk from the bus stop to the cul-de-sac. When he saw the house from the street, doubt crept in again. The place was pretty drab. If Dr. Newton was living here, he was really sacrificing for his various causes.

Emmet stuffed his cell phone away. He stopped on the sidewalk for a moment. For the first time, he felt a little nervous. This was the ideal hideout for a supervillain. Dark street. Not a lot of activity. Nothing behind the house but an empty field.

As he walked cautiously closer down the sidewalk, his eyes straining to see in the dark, he realized he’d made a mistake. It was eerily quiet in this neighborhood. If Dr. Newton really was Dr. Catalyst, he certainly wouldn’t be storing his Muraecudas in a tiny three-bedroom house. And it was unlikely he’d brought Apollo here, either.

He stood on the sidewalk next to a large cypress tree, considering his options. Finally, he decided he’d come this far. There were no lights on in or outside the house. It was nearly pitch-black, and he hadn’t thought to bring a flashlight. After a couple seconds he remembered his cell phone. It should give him enough light from the screen to see the ground in front of him, at least! As he pulled it out of his pocket, a hand reached out from behind him and touched him on the shoulder.

Despite himself Emmet gave out a bloodcurdling scream.