The house was surprisingly contemporary. A small bungalow set back from the road and surrounded on all three sides by tall, thin trees that had, like most of the foliage, just started opening its buds to the advancing season. There were no adornments. No peeking gnomes hid amongst last autumn’s faded gardens. No lanterns or signs marred the natural scope of the property. However, at least a dozen bird feeders hung in various levels of wear, each spilling with seed and overrun with chattering, hungry, winged visitors all intent on reaping that much more than its neighbor. Unseen eyes watched Dustin’s arrival from treetops and undergrowth, not in suspicion, but interest. Dustin could feel them leaning forward, gazes flicking from him to whatever happened to be sharing branch or ground with t
