"Chloe?" Arthur Brown’s voice wavered, his usual confidence flickering. Was he afraid of being exposed? Or was it something else? The light in his eyes seemed to dim rapidly.

Chloe quickly smiled. "I still haven’t given Mr. Brown his birthday gift!"

She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, elegantly wrapped box. "Mr. Brown, happy birthday again."

Mr. Brown accepted the gift with a nod. "Thank you. Make sure to visit us often."

Before Chloe could even ...