Chapter 17

Dusk made it easier to stay in the shadows, helped along by the towering oaks that dotted the lot. From the rear, he had a terrific perspective on the nearby houses. A scuffed path snaked along behind them, what he would’ve called an alley if Brookburn had more than its couple hundred residents. It would lead straight to the Beckerman back door.

Most of the yards he passed were open to the path, luxurious summer grass merging to broken stone and packed dirt. He tried not to peek, and for most houses, it was easy, voices quickening his pace so he could get by faster without drawing attention. But two voices began to separate from the rest, both male, coming from somewhere ahead. His ears tuned to them almost automatically. A moment later, he realized one of them belonged to Levi.

“I know you’re disappointed in me,” he heard Levi say.