The barking was coming from the yard next door. Still, it was loud, and she worried it would alert someone to her being there. She stepped into the yard, closing the gate securely behind her. Then she stood still until the dog finally shut up. The yard was relatively small, only a tiny patch of grass, and a patio area with an awning. Rosebushes lined the back fence too. They really had a thing for roses, huh? She trekked across the perfectly manicured and freshly watered grass. The elderly couple must’ve had their sprinklers on a timer. The soles of her shoes were soaked right through. She could feel the dampness seeping into her socks. Her teeth chattered as she took in their outdoor table, a charcoal grill near the back door.

When she and Dan were married, they had a little yard like this. She remembered sitting out on the patio on summer evenings, sipping chardonnay while he grilled. Steak, usually. He preferred red meat. Whitney hardly ate it anymore.

Whitney had never been able to afford a yard on her own. Her apartment didn’t even have one of those miniscule patio areas some of the neighbors had. She didn’t think it was worth the extra money.

She turned, her gaze sweeping along the back fence. That’s when she spotted the small shed in the right corner. It was the same color brown as the fence; that’s why initially she hadn’t seen it in the dark. It was windowless and small. Like really small. It was barely large enough to fit a person inside.

But it was big enough to fit a person, and that knowledge propelled Whitney forward. Adrenaline spiking, she yanked open the shed door. It swung open easily, almost like it hadn’t been latched shut to begin with. She choked on the smell of dust and gasoline.

“Amelia?” she whispered as loudly as she dared.

From next door, she caught a tinkly sound, like a dog’s tag being rattled as the dog ran around. She prayed that it wouldn’t start barking again.

It was dark, only a sliver of light from the back porch shining inside. But she knew the sun would be coming up soon. Pausing, she wondered if this was a mistake. Didn’t old people get up early? Reaching out, her fingers swiped over a lawnmower, a rake and a shovel. In the corner, she spotted a three-foot ladder folded up and propped against the wall. She bent down, finding a pair of gardening gloves, a few small shovels and a bag of fertilizer.