"Follow me," Mr. Montoya said softly. He paused. "Don't wander off."

I obeyed instantly.

The east garden path stretched endlessly before us as we walked silently through the darkness. My heart refused to calm down. Every step felt wrong: reckless and exposed.

Mr. Montoya walked ahead of me with calm, measured steps, as if none of this surprised him. It was as if finding me sneaking around the property in the middle of the night had only caused him annoyance. He left me wondering about the level