But when he straightened and his gaze swept past Juniper’s group again, that warmth vanished as quickly as it had appeared. By the time the next group of carolers passed, he had vanished into the crowd, leaving them with the unsettling feeling that they’d witnessed something both calculated and authentic.

“He’s good,” Juniper said quietly, her eyes still fixed on the spot where he’d been. “Every move deliberate, even the genuine ones. Especially the genuine ones.”

“The way he worked the Petersons,” Sophia observed, “like some kind of vulture in an expensive suit. But those kids…” Her eyes narrowing onto nothing, troubled. “Makes you wonder what kind of game he’s playing.”

Daniel’s device signaled in his pocket, cutting through their observations like a knife. Despite the cheerful festival music surrounding them, the sound seemed somehow ominous. As he pulled it out, Juniper noticed how his entire demeanor changed - his shoulders stiffening, his expression closing off.