Chapter 9. Abigail spun at the touch of the hand and shook her shoulder as she did so,

pulling free from its grasp. The gate was now to her right, and her mysterious visitor was closer to it than she was.

Abigail almost bolted on reflex, but she paused, though she stayed,

coiled and ready to dart for the gate. The woman who had touched her shoulder was tall and wiry.

Again, she was between the age of Abigail's mother and her grandmother, though if Abigail had

to guess, she would say the lady was closer

to her grandmother's age. Her expression was serious, but not sinister. The two of them

regarded one another in silence for a moment. If you're planning to murder me,' Abigail said gravely,

"'you should know that my associate will be here any moment.'

The lady looked confused.

"'Why would I want to murder you?' she asked.

Abigail shrugged, still tense and ready to run.

"'I'm not too clear on the motivation,' she said.

"'I just know I'm personally opposed to the result.'

"'The lady seemed to relax a little.

"'I'm not going to hurt you,' she said.

Abigail nodded in an encouraging fashion.

"'That's excellent news,' she said, "'inching closer to the right as she spoke. I'd feel

even better about it if I were closer to the gate than you. That's fine, said the woman, not moving.

Abigail moved slowly closer to the gate, and as she did so, she did feel better about the lady, who did not seem that sinister at all. She just began to relax when the gate flew open in a sudden burst, and Timothy raced through. Abigail, quick, he said, I think the—

And then he froze at the sight of the homeowner standing beside Abigail, as if he had been flashed frozen or turned to stone.

Abigail and the lady both looked at Timothy a moment, standing like a statue, mid-dramatic entrance.

...