She unlocked the glass door and stepped out into the cool night air. She wasn’t back in the overgrown weeds of the main yard. She was in a private, hidden courtyard that couldn’t be seen from the street or the main house.
A small wooden patio stretched out before her, painted to match the interior. But the centerpiece was the sound of trickling water. A DIY fish pond shimmered in the moonlight, surrounded by carefully placed stones and water lilies.
She walked to the edge of the water. Colorful fish darted beneath the surface, undisturbed. Lush greenery walled off the space, creating a total barrier from the neighbors. It was a secret garden in the truest sense.
On a small pink patio table, she finally found the answer. A laminated binder sat there, titled “The Project.” She opened it, her hands trembling slightly under the patio light.