* * *

I would have been able to alleviate their annoyance, but since they had gagged my mouth and tied my hands and feet, my circumstances were hardly conducive to assisting my kidnappers. I knew where that cricket lived. I knew how it got into the basement. I knew the thing would be chirping for hours unless I changed the timeline.

Elmer nodded his head in my direction. “Maybe she knows how to get rid of it? Couldn’t hurt to ask, right?”

“You know what Elmer? I never understood why Mom liked you more,” Griff answered. “You’re the dullest bulb on the planet.”

Elmer took a few steps toward me.

“What are you doing?” Griff asked, all the while oblivious as to what went on behind him.

Ignoring his brother, Elmer removed the gag from my mouth.

Thankful that the old dehumidifier came to life sputtering and rattling as if on cue, I whispered, “We need to make a trap using molasses and water. The cricket will get stuck in the molasses.”

“Will that kill it?” Elmer asked.

“That’s the whole idea,” I answered with a smile.

Elmer placed his index finger over his bottom lip, signifying I needed to be quiet as he untied my hands and feet.

“There’s a jar of molasses in the kitchen cupboard,” I whispered. “If you let me go upstairs, I can get rid of that cricket, pronto.”

Elmer looked over his shoulder. Griff hadn’t paid any attention to what his younger brother was saying or doing. “Okay, but come right back.”

Luckily, Griff’s back was still turned to me as he carried on with his work. I kept my eyes on him, as I slowly and silently went up the stairs. Sneaking away was a better alternative than having to use the small knives I’d hidden in my socks.

Once I’d reached the top of the stairs, I slammed the basement door shut, slid the bolt into the “lock” position and shouted, “I was just about to leave when you interrupted me. That chirping noise you keep hearing—it’s not a cricket. It’s a ticking time bomb.”