I’m in shock.
The police!
I get an uncomfortable feeling as I think of the questions he’ll ask. It will come out about Ryan and the drone; I just know it will and they’ll check their computer and find out about the girl in Norfolk. I feel sick as I remember that Adrian has left and yet I can’t say anything. I’m not ready to make public something I’m struggling with in private. This is a disaster and my heart thumps so fast I think I’m having a panic attack.
Jasmine looks as wrecked as I feel and I know she has equally as much on her mind, if not more than me. She will also have some explaining to do, and I don’t think I’ve ever admired anyone more in my life. She’s a warrior that’s for sure and will beat this addiction—I just know it. She’s a strong woman that stumbled, and I know she’ll soon pull herself together and be tougher and better for it. Will I be as lucky? I’m not so sure because what’s in my future is a hard story to predict the outcome of.
Esme looks shocked and I don’t blame her. She thought she had left the drama behind her in Streatham. None of us expected this, not here in the leafy Sussex countryside.
Keith and Sandra are quiet, and I wonder what’s running through their minds. This must be a shock to them because of all of us, they have led the most sheltered life. I’m positive they have led a charmed existence and must regret ever moving here in the first place.
I think we wait for a good forty minutes before the doorbell rings and Sandra jumps up to answer it. We all look with interest as the door opens and I see a marked police car looking completely out of place on her driveway.
A police officer follows her inside and I breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of his uniform. Finally, a figure of authority who will take it from here.
He looks kind and quite ordinary, and despite the circumstances, I’m happy to see him. I’m sure he’ll know what to do - it’s over.
Looking around the room, he nods and says, “Good morning, I’m officer Adams from Haywards Heath police station. I understand you want to report an incident.”
He smiles and takes a seat, and Keith steps up and takes charge.
He explains what we know and the officer writes every word down in his notebook, stopping occasionally to clarify things.
Once he hears the whole sorry tale, he exhales sharply and looks at Jasmine with respect. “You have done your homework.”
She nods and says coolly, “It’s what I do on a daily basis. It wasn’t difficult.”
Sandra interrupts. “So, what happens next, are you going to search the property?”
Leaning back, the officer shakes his head. “I’ll need a warrant to search the house which shouldn’t be a problem but may take some time.”
I can tell that Sandra and Keith are unhappy about that, and I share their concerns. What if the Evans leave in the meantime? If they are holding somebody hostage, time is of the essence.
He stands and says firmly, “I’ll just take a recce. Maybe knock on the door and suss things out.”
I say quickly, “Won’t that be alerting them, what if they leave before you get the warrant? Will you get someone to watch the house in the meantime?”
The officer looks at me with a smile and I feel a little foolish as he says kindly, “Let’s just take one step at a time. You’ve reported it and now you can leave it in our hands. If there’s anything sinister going on, it will be dealt with in the proper way and though the right channels. Now, I’ll take a quick look and if I have anything to report, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, just carry on with your day and know you did the right thing.”
As Keith shows him out, I say with a slight edge to my voice, “Is that it?”
Sandra looks as subdued as I feel and nods. “I suppose so. Maybe we’ll never know what went on there, but at least we tried.”
“What if nothing is, going on there I mean, do you think the Evans will find out we reported them? I’m not sure I want them knowing I was involved; they don’t sound like nice people.” Esme looks worried and to be honest, the thought had crossed my mind.
Sandra shakes her head. “No, the police are professional and won’t give out names. We have nothing to worry about. We did the right thing, and that’s where it ends. By the sounds of things, they’re moving out soon, anyway, and hopefully some normal people will take their place.”
As I look around the gathering, I wonder if we are what passes as normal these days? If my neighbours knew what my ‘normal’ involved, I’m sure they would gossip about me and Adrian over carrot cake, not to mention Ryan.
I wonder if anyone here is normal? Jasmine certainly isn’t. I expect Esme and the Wickham’s are, but who knows? Does anyone really know what goes on behind closed doors because on the face of things, everyone else seems to be living a much better life than I am.
Or are they?