Forget the aliens We gotta go Now Michael shouted at his friends
They were still near Liv’s house at the bottom of Shaker Street Michael’s house was pretty far away at the dead end at the top of the hill The Wilson home was one of the biggest on the block And it was the tallest The old Victorian looked like a skinny purple painted gingerbread house with green icing trim Above the third floor was a tower room a turret Michael’s mom called it There were lots of windows that overlooked the other historic homes of Shaker Street Michael saw a flash of light in one of those big windows Then as the fireworks faded a familiar voice boomed through a loudspeaker in the front yard You have five minutes The voice belonged to Michael’s grandfather Henry Wilson Senior Michael regretted the day he’d built those small speakers for his grandfather He’d used two cool-looking tin cigar boxes to hold the wiring They were supposed to make Grandpa’s stereo louder so his old ears could hear his favorite music But Grandpa immediately rewired them Grandpa thought it was funny that he’d turned the speakers into an announcement system that echoed throughout the entire neighborhood No one else thought it was funny at all Especially not Michael It was embarrassing for Michael and his friends Ticktock Grandpa called out His eighty-year-old voice cracked Ugh Leo groaned looking up the tall hill I hate it when he does this He tightened his backpack straps for the run Someone should call Sheriff Kawasaki She wouldn’t do anything Liv said The speakers are annoying but everyone on Shaker Street loves Grandpa Henry Henry Senior was Michael’s dad’s Henry Junior’s dad Liv and Michael’s moms were sisters so Liv wasn’t related to Henry Senior Still she and everyone else called him Grandpa Just then the old man called out Time’s a wastin Ugh Leo complained again as they took off running up the hill Maybe you could invent some kind of escalator Leo said to Michael as his breath became heavier Or a
zip line A zip line that goes up Michael asked He looked at Leo His friend was slowing down to walk That would be against the laws of gravity Some laws need to be broken Leo said His face was turning red and sweaty They were partway up the hill nearly at the mustard yellow weathered house where Leo and his dad rented the second floor Nervous that Leo might duck out for a snack and a nap Michael took his friend’s arm He tugged Leo the rest of the way up the hill while Liv pushed from behind Come on We’re almost there Liv said encouraging Leo to keep going Ticktock Grandpa’s voice cackled through the loudspeaker Three minutes and twelve seconds to go Or else
CHAPTER TWO Michael Liv and Leo dashed through the purple house’s side gate They went straight to their Maker Shack Clubhouse The clubhouse used to be Grandpa Henry’s toolshed When Michael was old enough Grandpa gave it to him as a place to hang out and build things Now Grandpa thought it was fun to lock Michael and his friends out of it with traps Michael pulled on the door To no one’s surprise it was locked What’s the situation Liv asked pushing up her glasses She hovered over Michael’s shoulder Michael surveyed the locks on the shed door There was usually only one lock Michael had the key Today there were five different ones They had twisting combination dials instead of keyholes He twisted the first dial randomly Ticktock Michael’s grandfather called out of an upstairs window You have one minute fifty-eight seconds That’s not long enough Liv sighed The old guy never gives up does he We’ve got this Michael assured her He took a closer look Michael continued So the first thing I notice is that these combination locks have letters instead of numbers He turned to Leo Can you find any information about this type of lock You can use my phone Liv said rubbing it in that she had one and they didn’t Maker Shack Rules Michael reminded them both Fun killer Liv muttered even though she knew the rules One of them was no phones at the clubhouse Michael and Leo had made that one up Since she was the only one with a phone Liv was outvoted
