The next morning, which also happens to be Buddy's fourteenth birthday, Buddy decides to head to 56 Croxley Street as he knows he may be able to get shelter there. With the house empty, Buddy succeeds until Ralph returns home. Buddy's dad had told the police that Ralph had not been involved with the crimes. After talking with Ralph, he finds out that Ralph is his uncle on his mother's side of the family, and Ralph's father was the man who killed himself after murdering his wife. After spending the night at Ralph's house, Buddy decides to go to the place where his mum is staying, and along the way, he finds himself on the front page of newspapers saying that he is missing. Joyce (his mother's friend she is staying with) tells Buddy that his parents are looking for him and they were now at his house. Buddy goes there to find them (his dad being bailed out of prison by his mum).