Chapter 17 Breaking In It was long after midnight by the time Bill and Oliver reached their target.
It was a small but pretty house in a quiet part of the city.
The house was surrounded by a great deal of land and trees.
As a matter of fact, it looked more like a cottage than a house.
Bill lifted Oliver over the small garden gate, then climbed over himself.
He left Bullseye by the gate to watch for police.
Bill pointed toward a small, round window near the back door.
That's the one, Oliver, Bill whispered.
See how it's already open a crack?
The boy nodded.
You need to climb through, then come around to the front and let me in.
Oliver nodded once more.
He was afraid he would make a mistake.
He had often seen Bill angry, but had never seen him lose his temper.
Oliver did not want to experience the rage of Bill Sykes.
And be quiet about it, too.
Bill pushed Oliver toward the house.
There's dogs in the kitchen.
That's why I have to go in the front.
Not as much noise.
Bill lifted the boy up.
Oliver gently pushed the window open and climbed onto the sill.
Although the window was very small, it was not as small as Oliver.
He slipped inside easily.
He stepped onto a table in the hallway, then onto the floor.
He stood very still.
There were no sounds in the house other than his own breathing.
Oliver began to tremble.
All of his limbs shook.
He started to sweat.
He considered running upstairs to wake up the owners.
Oliver thought of Bill outside waiting for him.
He realized he was too afraid of Bill to attempt an escape, so Oliver tiptoed toward the front door.
Bill was already there waiting for him.
Oliver could see him through the mail slot.
"'Come on, boy!'
Bill barked at him.
"'Open up!'
Oliver tried to unlock the door, but he could not pull the deadbolt.
He tried and tried, but it would not budge.
He used all his strength, and the catch finally released.
Unfortunately, Oliver also lost his balance, and he tumbled across a table.
A brass vase crashed to the floor.
The boy jumped back in shock and terror.
Bill swung the newly unlocked door open.
"'What have you done?' he hissed.
Bill saw the vase rattling down the hallway.
He heard the dogs bark in the kitchen.
"'Come on, Oliver!
We have to leave!
Now!'
Oliver started backing away from Bill while shaking his head.
This was his one chance to be saved.
Someone else in the house had let the dogs out of the kitchen.
The dogs started to race down the hall.
Bill realized there was no hope with Oliver, so he turned and ran.
At first, Oliver thought the dogs were coming to greet him.
Then he recognized the sound of growls and snarls.
The boy tried running toward the front door, but the dogs took hold of his pant leg.
He was terrified.
Oliver lost his balance once again.
He fell to the floor, hitting his head on the hall table on his way down.
Everything went black.
