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discovered they’d been locked in,
     to when Mr. Chong had freed them….
    Suddenly, clear as a bell, Nicky saw himself running down the shed ramp —
and tripping over a rut in the grass!
But he and Turtleneck had been back and forth across the lawn countless times that morning. Not once had Nicky noticed anything
     strange about the ground around the shed.
    More important, he knew he had seen a rut like that once before. It was just like the one he and Turtleneck had repaired in
     the baseball diamond after Stick Jolly had ridden his bike on it!
    It was you!
he wanted to shout.
You’re the one!
    But he didn’t. Something was still missing. What motive could Stick have to lock the shed with Nicky and Turtleneck inside?
     That was a question Nicky just couldn’t answer.
    Alfie struck out his turn at bat. Then Bus sent a streaking grounder through short. It was enough to score Nicky, but not
     enough to win the Mudders the game. As Nickywatched from the Mudders’ bench, Chess Laveen popped up to end the sixth inning. The final score was Bulls 4, Mudders 2.
    “Okay, fellas, let’s line up and shake hands,” Coach Parker called. Nicky joined his teammates. He automatically murmured
     “Good game” to each of the Bulls’ players.
    When he got to Stick, he hesitated, then stuck out his hand. Stick took it. As he did, he glanced over his shoulder at his
     brother, Sam, and gave a sly smile.
    Suddenly Nicky’s memory came flooding back. He knew what it was about Sam Jolly that had been nagging at his brain since the
     start of the game. It was something he had overheard a few days ago.
    Sam Jolly, Stick’s older brother, was the person who held the record for most RBIs — the very record Nicky was closing in
     on! What better reason would Stick need to keep Nicky from the game?
    Nicky tightened his grip on Stick’s hand.Stick’s eyes widened. Nicky stared at him, then said in a low voice, “I know what you did, Stick. And I think it stinks.”
    Stick tore his hand free. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. But he couldn’t meet Nicky’s gaze.
    The lines of players had stopped moving when Nicky did. Now the two teams gathered around Nicky and Stick. Turtleneck pushed
     his way next to Nicky.
    “T., take a good look at the guy who locked us in the shed today,” Nicky said. Turtleneck’s eyebrows shot up.
    “What’s going on here?” Coach Parker asked. The Bulls’ coach appeared beside him.
    Nicky took a deep breath. “Coach, Stick Jolly is the reason Turtleneck and I were late to today’s game. He locked us in my
     shed. We would probably still be in there if my dad hadn’t let us out.”
    “You can’t prove I did that!” Stick cried.
    “I think I can,” Nicky said. He explainedabout the rut in the grass and the muffled laugh. “I figure he was trying to prevent me from breaking his brother’s RBI record,”
     he concluded.
    The Bulls’ coach laid a heavy hand on Stick’s shoulder. “Well, son?” he asked. “The truth, now.”
    Stick hung his head. “Yeah, I did it,” he whispered. “I got the idea from your dad that day your puppies got loose. I knew
     you were superstitious — I’ve seen that ritual you go through before you bat and all — and I overheard you and Turtleneck
     talking about it, too, just before I put the peg in the shed latch. So I figured, even if you did get out in time for the
     game, you’d think you’d been jinxed and wouldn’t play well.” He grimaced. “I guess it was pretty dumb, but that record is
     important to my brother. I-I’m sorry, Nicky.”
    Nicky was quiet for a moment. Then he slowly extended his hand. “No hard feelings,Stick,” he said. The boys shook hands.
     

    Suddenly Nicky grinned. “But let me tell you right now,” he said, “I’m only one away from that record — and I’ve got a sneaking
     suspicion I’m going to break it! I’m going to concentrate on playing, not on worrying about being jinxed. No more