CHAPTER 32

SANDRA

As soon as everyone’s seated, we look at Jasmine with curiosity. There’s something different about her today and despite how shattered she looks, there’s a spark of excitement in her eyes that’s compelling.

She looks around the group and says urgently, “I need to tell you all what I discovered about number 9. For some time, we’ve all suspected something isn’t right there but brushed it off as just gossip and overactive imaginations. Esme and Nancy have thought for some time that somebody is living there in the room overlooking their garden. The only people we have seen are Charlie and Donna Evans who have a very interesting history.”

I share a look with Keith who raises his eyes. I know we have spoken at length about number 9 but knew none of this. The alarm bells ring as Jasmine lowers her voice.

“I found out that number 9 is rented on a short-term lease to Charlie Evans. They have one month left to run and I’m assured they will not renew it.”

“That’s good then, isn’t it?”  Esme looks relieved and Jasmine shakes her head. “For us it is but what if there is someone being held against their will? Their time is running out and we may be the only ones who can help them.”

Keith interrupts, “But this is ridiculous, Jasmine, why on earth do you think anything like that would happen in Meadow Vale, it seems a bit fanciful if you ask me?”

I can tell he’s getting agitated and I know it’s because he feels bad he wasn’t the one to have concerns. He’s always prided himself on his ability to manage and oversee things and even at our last house was in charge of many committees and neighbourhood schemes. He won’t like not knowing about this and so I say quickly, “Carry on, Jasmine, we need to know what you’ve found.”

She looks at me gratefully. “When I met Charlie Evans, he seemed familiar to me. Something about him triggered a memory that I couldn’t place. It’s only when I started digging and found out his last name, that things happened. I’m not sure why but I entered his name in our computer at work and found out he’s been on our database for some time.”

Keith leans forward and I know he’s lapping up everything she’s saying and he urges, “Go on.”

“Well, a few years ago, he was arrested for dealing drugs and released on a technicality. His legal team cast doubt over the evidence and insinuated the police planted it. The judge and jury believed it and they released him.”

“Drugs!” I look at her in horror. “Are you saying that he’s peddling drugs from number 9? This is bad, Keith, who knows what undesirables are sniffing around the development?”

Jasmine shakes her head. “I don’t think he’s dealing in drugs, Sandra, it’s worse than that.”

“Worse than drugs, what could possibly be worse than drugs?”

I feel lightheaded as her words sink in. I’ve been nowhere near drugs in my life and I’m not about to start now. If there are drugs in that house, I will make it my mission to alert the authorities.

Jasmine looks worried. “The reason I gathered you here, isn’t because of Charlie Evans, although he is a major concern.”

“His wife?” Nancy’s eyes are wide and Jasmine nods. “I did a search on Charlie and his wife’s name came up with a charge sheet much longer than his. A few years ago, they arrested her on suspicion of imprisoning a young girl in her house and trafficking her for sex.”

I feel sick and collapse back in my seat, feeling light headed. This is not looking good.

“What happened?” Esme looks as shocked as the rest of us and Jasmine sighs. “It never went to court. The girl disappeared and with no evidence there wasn’t a case.”

“Disappeared?” Esme looks around with fear in her eyes and whispers, “How did they discover her at all?”

“Apparently, the girl escaped and alerted the authorities from a phone box near to where they lived. When the police went to find her, she was gone, so they searched the house. There were photos in the file of a room similar to the one Ryan has images of from number 9. Mrs Evans told the police she was an internet model and showed them her site.”

“What site – a website?”

I feel sick imagining some kind of porn business being conducted not too far away and Jasmine nods. “There were indecent pictures of Donna Evans and apparently she sells private shows for men online. She earns quite a lot of money from it and although the site was shut down, she wasn’t prosecuted. I think she got community service, or something along those lines but that’s all.”

I shake my head in disgust and look at Keith. “Phone the police, Keith. We need to report this immediately.”

Keith jumps up and the rest of us look around at each other in shock. Yes, calling the police is the right thing to do. If there is something going on in number 9, we need to put a stop to it at once.