Chapter 3 - The Green DyeWe considered confronting Byron and Priya immediately — we had video evidence, we could walk next door and demand an explanation. But I knew exactly what would happen. They'd apologize, say they thought we wouldn't mind, claim it started innocently, and within a few uncomfortable weeks we'd be back to waving politely across the driveway.
That didn't feel adequate. They hadn't used our hot tub once. They'd apparently been doing it for almost a year, bringing food, bringing drinks, playing music, comfortable enough to treat our backyard like an extension of their own property. They'd stopped worrying about being caught.
Desmond and I made two decisions. The first was simple — he installed an automatic lock on the backyard gate, one that could only be opened with a code from our side. Their access would end permanently.
The second was mine. I'd trained as a chemist before moving into regulatory compliance, so I knew enough about compounds and skin contact to pick something harmless. I found a food-grade dye, safe for skin, that would fade within a day or two — but after prolonged exposure, it left a clearly visible green tint. Harmless. Temporary. Impossible to ignore.
Thursday evening, I added it to the hot tub water. The following Friday, we made another obvious show of leaving — this time parking several streets away and quietly returning home. We sat in the kitchen watching the camera feed.
At 8:30 p.m., the gate opened. Byron first, then Priya, then Nadia and Cole. Same insulated bag, same speaker, same confident routine. Byron pulled the cover off like he owned it. They climbed in.
For more than an hour, we watched. Then Nadia suddenly looked at her arm and said something to Cole. He examined his own skin. Priya looked down. Then Byron did too. Even through the camera, I could see the mood shift instantly.
They were turning green.
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They scrambled out and headed for the gate. Byron tried to open it. Nothing. He pulled harder. Still locked. He pushed, pulled, lifted. The automatic lock held.
Desmond stood. "All right."
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