MEET LEONARD

Kathy and Leonard were two of Tyler's closest friends, too, but he'd really not wanted to include them this time. He knew they'd never believe him about what he'd seen and heard the night before.

"I don't know," Antonio said. "You looked like there was something exciting going on and I thought they'd want in on whatever it is. We’ve always done everything together."

Kathy and Leonard walked up, greeting their friends. Both looked older than their thirteen years. Kathy Goldman was attractive with auburn hair, brown eyes, fine features and had style to burn, always sporting the latest trendy clothes and glasses. Her mother owned an exclusive ladies’ clothing boutique and her father was a prominent surgeon.

Leonard Lang, son of a renowned award-winning biochemist from China, was super intelligent, programmed with his father’s genes that demanded scientific proof of all things. Offbeat, he sensed there was more to Kathy than her obsession with fashion and he admired her technical proficiency on the piano. He had always thought he might like to give music a try. The mathematical precision of it piqued his curiosity; but he just hadn’t found the time with all his science fairs and clubs. "So what's the urgency?" Leonard asked, with a hint of condescension.

"Just come on," Tyler answered, leading them up the street.

Kathy followed, thinking how Tyler needed to rid himself of his preppy image, maybe grow his blonde hair a little longer.

Tyler halted when they stood directly across from the mansion.

"Why are we stopping here?" Kathy asked, staring at the imposing structure set back from the street up on its hill.

The mansion loomed above them with its dozens of arched stained glass windows, topped by a stately cupola jutting eighty feet from the ground. Dark clouds had gathered behind it.

"I thought you avoided this block like the plague!" Leonard said.

"That was before. I've always had a strange feeling about this place, like it was haunted, but now I know. Come on," Tyler ordered. “The coast is clear! Follow me.”