She nodded as he spoke, glad for his help. She put her head down and wondered if she could get to that secret highway without being spotted. Her heart pounded against her rib cage and Pearl was glad for her brother's presence. Thankfully, that redheaded fellow down the way seemed too dumb to realize that she was missing from her old bedroom. She held her breath and pressed herself against one wall when they came to a corner, peeking around one way and then the next.