Greg edges his way through just in time to catch the vanishing act, and he nearly brings down a whole pile with his jumping. As it is, a load-bearing old spring mattress creaks with effort.

"Wh, what did you--" There were days he'd play it off as a trick of the light, but now all he can think of is this stranger getting dragged off for things like that. Everyone else has been trying to keep it on the down low, but this little guy must not be with the program.

He kneels down, tense and hissing through his teeth. "You gotta be careful, kid, you'll get in big trouble if they see you doing stuff like that!"