“I guess?”

Lia peeked over the edge of the door. Nora—a short girl sporting a swimsuit under her T-shirt and a scarf knotted protectively over her hair—walked a small collie and read something on her phone. A water gun was tucked into the pocket of her joggers.

“What do your notes say about Nora?” Gem asked, pulling a water gun out of the backseat.

Lia laughed softly. “Smart, prepared, probably can’t be caught unawares.”

“Cool,” Gem said. “Can you see her?”

Lia rifled through her bag and came up empty. “I can’t find my binoculars,” she said. “Maybe my mom took them back.”

She hadn’t wanted to loan them to Lia in the first place, and now she had probably taken them back as a way to make sure Lia stopped playing.

“Sounds like something she’d do,” Gem said. “That other lady is leaving, but unless you’re a better shot than that first attempt, we won’t be able to hit Nora from beyond the fence. People will probably show up before she leaves.”

“There’s a play group that comes by in twenty minutes. We’ll be overrun by toddlers,” Lia said. “Could we have one thing go right?”

Gem exhaled loudly. “This would be so much easier if Lincoln had fewer dog lovers. I have an idea, but it’s going to get us disqualified if I’m caught.”

Nora vanished over the little hill to the dog park. Gem got out of the car, armed with only a phone. Lia watched as Gem slunk to the entrance to the lot, out of sight of the woman leaving, and started walking along the sidewalk toward the gate as if simply out for a stroll. Gem stared at the phone in their hand. The woman who was leaving shut the gate behind her and dropped her key into her pocket. She too stared at her phone.

Gem ran into her, apologizing and fluttering about, one hand on the woman’s arm and the other patting her down to make sure she was okay. It was a classic distraction, one Gem used often when showing off simple tricks. Gem and the woman laughed and chatted. Then, they went their separate ways. As Gem walked toward the gate, they flashed their palm to Lia. Silver glinted in it.

Just the one key, Gem texted. Thank God. I’d feel weird stealing all her keys.

You’re amazing. Lia, laughing, got out of the car and close enough to the park to watch.

Gem kept their head down and both hands on their phone. With no sudden movements, Nora didn’t look up, and Gem got within range without even the dog noticing. Gem lingered near a bench, and Nora set her phone aside. Gem lifted their water gun and fired. Water splashed against Nora’s back.

Lia whooped. They all joined up and exchanged details and plans. Nora was a good sport and a touch relieved—she had grown tired of being on edge. Nora left to change, and Gem and Lia chased down the woman to return her “dropped” key. As they returned to Gem’s car, Gem wrapped one arm around Lia.