It takes a lot to shock me, but this has. Seeing the poor man venting his anger in a situation completely out of control, shocks me because I’m feeling as if I’d like to lend a hand. Jasmine and Liam committed adultery and worse, with Liam’s brother. It makes me look at them in a different light, and I’m not sure if moving here was such a good idea. Do people have no morals these days? Is it a case of having whatever you want and iron out the details later? I’m guessing it is because who in their right minds does this? It’s inhuman and frankly I want nothing more to do with them.
From their blatant disregard for their own property, to their lack of compassion or guilt for another makes it very clear these are not people I want to associate with.
They’ve always looked at Keith and me as if we’re beneath them. Not worthy of their time and an irritation they have to suffer, when all the time it was them who were not worthy of our time.
Feeling sorry for the man venting his anger in the cruellest of ways, I turn and head home. I no longer care what he does, and I no longer want to watch.
To my surprise, Esme and Nancy turn with me and Nancy says in a low voice, “Sandra, do you have a minute?”
I look up in surprise and see two anxious women looking at me with apparent nerves and I say abruptly, “Only if it doesn’t concern the Davis’s.”
They nod and fall into step beside me and Nancy says urgently, “We were on our way to see you concerning a matter we don’t know what to make of.”
Feeling intrigued, I nod and say quickly, “Follow me.”
As we head inside, I’m glad to close the door on a situation I want no part in and sighing, wave towards the kitchen.
“Follow me and I’ll put the kettle on. I would suggest something stronger but it is early and well, maybe it’s best if we keep a clear head.”
I wonder what they need help with because I’m realising that most of the time, the people around here don’t want our help at all but one look at their faces tells me something serious has happened, so I say quickly, “Ok, tell me your problem while the kettle boils and I’ll try to help if I can.”
Esme looks uncomfortable and so does Nancy, which strikes me as odd because Nancy is always so self-assured and confident. It must be serious.
Nancy appears nervous as she says, “The thing is, Sandra, it’s about the house opposite, you know, the one that backs onto our garden.”
“Number 9?”
“Yes.”
Nancy appears worried and looks to Esme for support, who nods. “My son Billy told me he saw somebody waving a red piece of material out of the upstairs window, as if they were signalling for help.”
Nancy adds, “Ryan saw it too, and we were wondering what to do about it.”
“Is that it? Why the drama? It was probably someone cleaning and was shaking the dust from the rag. I’ve done the same countless times. In fact, that’s probably it because that woman was gardening earlier and appears on some sort of mission. In fact, I’ve not long left her, so as you can see, there’s a perfectly innocent explanation for it.”
They appear uncomfortable and then Esme says, “The thing is, there’s something not quite right about that house.”
Nancy nods. “Jasmine told me the man who lives there is on their database and is a known criminal.”
“What?” I spin around and look at Nancy incredulously and she blushes a little and says meekly. “Don’t ask how I know but it’s come to our attention they may be using one of the bedrooms for some kind of photography. They’ve set it up with a black sheet on the bed and a camera trained on it. What do you think that means, Sandra, because it feels very sinister? Also, Jasmine told me the man, Mr Evans, is a known criminal who escaped a jail sentence not long ago and is renting number 9 from that estate agents in town. What do you think is going on because, quite frankly, we’re imagining all sorts?”
My head is spinning and I think back to the woman gardening, looking a little strange when I mentioned pushing some work her husband’s way. Even then something didn’t add up and I can see why my neighbours are worried.
The kettle boils and I set about making the drinks and think fast. They may have a point; it certainly doesn’t sound like normal behaviour but then again, it could be and we don’t want to go around there all guns blazing with no factual evidence.
Handing them the mugs of tea, I say with curiosity, “How did you find out, about the room, I mean?”
Nancy looks as if she’s about to pass out and mumbles, “Um, Ryan saw something when his drone flew a little too close to their upstairs window. He was doing a project for school involving, um, maps and got a little more than he bargained for when his drone went off at an angle.”
“Hmm.” I look at Nancy sharply because I’m not stupid, and if her son was working on a school project, then I’m the Queen of England.
I think for a moment and then sigh heavily. “Leave it with me. I’ll mention it to Keith when he comes home from his golf club. I’m sure as active members of the neighbourhood watch committee, we will venture round there later and see if everything’s ok.”
They look relieved and I’m sure it’s because now they’ve passed the burden on, they can shelve the blame onto someone else if anything untoward is going on. Is something unpleasant going on? I mean, the woman seemed pleasant enough. Maybe there’s a perfectly innocent explanation for all this, in fact the more I think of it there must be because nothing sinister ever happens in developments as prestigious as Meadow Vale.