Handing the cab driver another twenty to hide around the corner and wait, I eased out of the car and cautiously approached Graham’s driveway, trying to avoid being spotted by nosy neighbors.

“What’re you doing now?” Gail asked.

“I’m standing in his driveway, looking up at his house.”

Truly, Graham was a man of means. He lived in a brick covered palace. Custom lighting set the mood, bouncing off his landscaping. His front lawn was manicured to perfection. If the neighborhood’s property value were to decrease, it wouldn’t be because of the color of his skin or the condition of his lawn.

“What’re you doing now?” Gail asked again.

“I’m walking around to the back. I see some lights, so I’m just going to take a look,” I shamelessly replied.

“Montana, that’s breaking and entering. That’s a crime.”

“It’s only a crime if you get caught. You know what, you’re right. I’m being silly. I’m going to just knock on his door and find out for myself.”

“Guuurrrlll,don’t you do that!!”

“Why not?”

“’Cause you’ll look like a stalker. Right now you just look desperate,” she answered. “Trust me, I know, I’ve been both. Now, go around the back and find a window where you can see inside. That way he’ll never know you were there.”

Her advice sounding good to me, I eased the side gate open and walked slowly, gingerly, around the back.

“What’s his backyard look like?”

“It looks like a backyard.”

“Girl, don’t get smart. What does he have back there?”

“He has lawn furniture, lots of trees, and grass. And a dog, a big dog,” I answered, nearly having a heart attack as I imagined myself being mangled to shreds by the dog and later being identified in the police report as an ex-lover turned crazed stalker turned chocolate puppy chow.

As the sound of the barking grew louder and the dog came closer, there I stood, still, with both eyes closed. Maybe if I couldn’t see him, he couldn’t see me. Then the barking stopped just as suddenly as it had started. Opening my eyes, I realized it was the dog next door, staring, peering, and growling.

“Girl, are you dead?”

“No, I’m not dead.”

“Oh good. ’Cause so close to the holidays, that would have been a mess. That his dog?”

“No, the dog next door, thank God. But he’s looking at me like he’s about to come through this fence.”

“Give him a snack. That’s the only way you’ll get the dog to leave you alone. If you don’t, Graham will know somebody is outside and come looking.”