Jason eased the sedan against the curb and looked over his shoulder at the house they had just passed, the one with a minivan parked in the driveway. “You sure that’s the one, Brad?”

Bradley double-checked the notecard tucked in the palm of his hand, then looked at the number on one of the posts. “15 Alsatian Drive? Yep, that’s it.”

Jason slapped the steering wheel and swore under his breath. “Todd promised us nobody would be home!” He opened the door and stepped into the road, slamming the heavy metal plate behind him. “Stupid piece of junk.”

“That sure is an edifying description of our new recruit,” Bradley teased. “Looks like I’ll have to break it to him that one of his coworkers doesn’t like him.” He opened the back door and took out a black toolbox with a combination lock at the top. “Oof! Did Lycan sneak lead in here when we weren’t looking?”

Jason smirked. “Nah, you just eat too much and work out too little.”

“It was one cookie! And I work out more than you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s see what happens at the range.”

They crossed the empty street and opened the wrought iron gate leading to the Matthews’ neatly manicured yard. A small live oak rose from a bed of cream-colored pebbles, the lone scar in a sea of vibrant green.

“Don’t you think we should think of a story first?” Bradley asked. He stopped on the sidewalk and looked behind him.

Jason shrugged and kept walking. “I was just gonna wing it.”

Bradley yelped. “You can’t do that, Jase! You failed drama!” Brad switched the heavy toolbox to his other hand and trotted past Jason, reaching the door before his older brother.

Jason snickered behind him. Bradley turned. “What?” A sparrow flew from the fence to the tree. Jason found its flight pattern to be mesmerizing. “Wow, a bird. What’s so funny?”

Jason jumped, as if startled. “Huh? Oh. Nothing.”

Bradley frowned. “Right.” He rested one claw against the red brick beside the doorbell. “Let me handle this. Here goes.” He mashed down on the button, and a loud gong sounded from inside the house. “Whoa. They mean business.”

A moment later, a middle-aged woman came to the door. “May I help you?” she asked, glancing at the two young men in their green jumpsuits.

“Mrs. Matthews? I’m Brad and this is my partner, Jase. We’re here to—”

Recognition sparked in Mrs. Matthews’ eyes. “Oh! Todd said you were coming today, so I wanted to wait here for you.”

Jason and Bradley exchanged concerned glances. “He…he did, did he?”

Mrs. Matthews frowned. “Aren’t you here to work on the upstairs bathroom?”

Jason’s left ear perked up. “Yes! We are. Here. To fix…to take care of what’s wrong.” Bradley rolled his eyes at his brother’s attempt to play the part of a plumber.

“I wasn’t sure if I believed him when he told me about you coming. Come on in!” Jason shrugged imperceptibly and entered the house. Mrs. Matthews began climbing the stairs. “The bathroom’s this way, right across the hall from Todd’s room. He said the toilet wasn’t always flushing right. My husband and I couldn’t figure it out, either.”

Bradley blinked. So something was wrong? “That’s what we’re here for, ma’am.” Mrs. Matthews glanced at the clock on the wall. “Is there a problem?”

“I was hoping to get to the store before they closed. I don’t want to rush you, but do you know how long it’ll take?”

Jason came to the rescue. “As soon as we figure out what the problem is, it shouldn’t take too long.”

“Ma’am, do you want to go now? We can lock up the house when we’re finished,” Bradley said. Jason’s eyes bugged out.

Mrs. Matthews shook her head. “I really appreciate your offer, but I would feel more comfortable if I stayed in the house until you left. I don’t mean to offend you, but there’s been more break-ins than usual the last few weeks, and it doesn’t hurt to be too careful.”

“Right, ma’am. I didn’t mean to make you suspicious.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Mrs. Matthews said. “I’ll just be right downstairs. Let me know if you need anything.” She descended the stairs and vanished.

Jason poked Bradley in the ribs. “I don’t know if that went really well or really bad.”

“No kidding. Did you tell Todd to say anything?”

“Nope. Guess that means you didn’t either.” They frowned simultaneously. “I call dibs in the shooting range.”

“No fair! Just ‘cause you’re older than me…”

“And shoot better.”

“Do not!”

“Okay, we’re the same.” Jason looked at the bathroom door, and Bradley glanced in Todd’s room. “So who does what?”

“I call ba – bedroom!” Brad felt warmth in his cheeks.

Jason grinned. “Have fun fishing,” he said. “I’ll take care of the room.”

Bradley’s tail drooped to the ground. “Dang it!”