They were all in on it

When he finally reached the door, he cracked it open just enough to peek outside.

A young man in his twenties stood there, his face unreadable.

Reuben narrowed his eyes. "How may I help you, young man?"

Ikenna put on an easygoing smile, his posture relaxed. "Oh, I was just passing through this area, looking for directions. I couldn't find any houses around here until I saw yours. Could you tell me how to get to Peace Street?"

Reuben frowned. His instincts screamed at him that something wasn't right. This area was too secluded for a lost traveler to wander in by mistake.

His grip on the gun tightened, but he knew that keeping the door closed for too long would only make him look more suspicious if the young man was really lost.

He forced a neutral expression and answered, "Peace Street is still quite far from here. You must have taken a wrong turn." He then started explaining the directions in detail, keeping his words casual.