the bedroom.
A solid rectangle with too many access points.
Peering into the backyard, he noted the configuration of the pool and the block wall. Without asking for permission, he marched through the back door and nearly shit himself. Yes, there was a block wall, but it ended next to a private patio for the main house. A tall, long-established hedge provided the only buffer to the house next door, and the iron gate where it came to an end was a security joke. Even if the gate had a massive lock, it was still possible to access the yard through the hedge.
Fuck.
Before slipping back inside, he looked at the corner of the pool area where several loungers sat. It was where Summer had been dancing as he hung over the wall trying to get close to her.
Stan and Lynda were standing in the archway when he went inside.
“Bud loves Spanish architecture, so this archway was his idea. The bedroom is through that door. It’s small and has a window. You can see it on the addition plans.”
He was relieved to hear they wouldn’t be invading Summer’s bedroom.
Stan and Lynda wandered around here and there, leaving Arnie to continue his exploration. While he was absently poking in the living room, he stumbled upon a shadow box filled with the treasure memories she collected the day they went hiking.
Glancing sideways, he saw Stan and Lynda at the table, ignoring him while poring over the paper plans for the addition.
Quickly so as not to get caught, he lifted the top of the shadow box and stroked a small, smooth rock with his finger. He felt her energy. She’d recently touched the objects. One by one, he added his energy to hers and then closed the box. When he looked at the glass top, he saw a pulsing rainbow.
As he straightened and looked around, something curious hit him. Except for the shadow box, the framed picture, and a wall calendar, he found no personal things like pictures. No pictures of the baby, which he thought was odd.
Then it hit him. Summer wasn’t nesting. She didn’t see this as a forever move or anything other than a temporary landing zone.
He’d seen enough. Signaling to Stan, Arnie quickly let himself out and returned to the house next door. He called King and caught him doing a kid taxi thing—ferrying Jack and Nic to after-school activities.
“The physical layout is a security nightmare. It’s stripped down minimum. A fifth grader could break in.”
“Suburban hell,” King drawled. “I didn’t just put in security at the new house. I installed layers. Dawn questioned my sense until Milo explained the genius of it.”
“Layers, huh,” Arnie grunted. “I like it, but alas, what she has going on is as opaque as fishnet.”
They were still discussing the issue when he stepped through the sliders into the backyard. All it took was a few seconds to freeze in place.
“Holy fuck. King! I see a drone. For real, man. It’s up high but definitely hovering.”
King reacted immediately. “Text Stan. Tell him to take cover. A hat, anything. If it’s your evil stepmother, she’s gonna recognize her own kid.”
“On it.” He disconnected the call and texted Stan.
Drone alert. Stay inside, away from windows. If you go out, wear a baseball cap and carry something
A thumbs-up emoji came back.
He didn’t move and simply tracked the moving object, never losing sight. What the hell was the purpose of a drone? Checking for what?
He texted King. Really need the identity of the lookers.
The reply was one word. Working.
The drone vanished, but it took another hour for Stan to return. He went off the minute he came through the door.
“A drone? What’s happening, Arnie?”
“Your mother is better at this than I imagined. She or someone she hired is doing reconnaissance. Probably layout and daily habits. I’m going to fucking kill her when this thing goes down. You realize this, right?”
“You’re gonna have to get in line.” The seething anger in Stan’s voice was impressive.
They looked at each other. The wheels in Arnie’s brain were working overtime.
“Get a work crew here stat. We need activity. I want lots of coming, going, and deliveries.”
“I see where this is going. Don’t worry. I’ll cover this place with worker bees.”
“And let’s get some furniture. Right now. Throw money around and get us a table and chairs. We’re not going anywhere.”
“In the interest of keeping our shit together, let’s agree on a food plan, and I’ll order Postmates.”
Stan’s practical bent came as a surprise. Arnie supposed