The Watchful Neighbour - Debbie Viggiano Page 0,29

telephone and dialled Jade Ferguson’s number. It went straight to voicemail.

‘Ah. Hello, Miss Ferguson,’ he said softly.

He hated dictating messages.

‘My apologies for not getting back to you last night. Mother…’

He trailed off awkwardly.

‘If you still need to speak to me about something. I will be in this evening. Good-bye.’

He hung up. That was one job out the way. Now for the second. It was as good a time as any to take a stroll along Gresham Terrace. He wanted to make sure nothing looked amiss after hearing about the problems in Copthall Road.

Greg also decided to knock on some of the residents’ doors. Those who were retired were always glad of his friendly enquiry asking if they were okay. He would finish off his visual check by walking the length of the back alley that ran between the back-to-back rear gardens. Sometimes teenagers congregated there. He’d seen them huddled together, hoods up, faces obscured as they’d smoked dubious cigarettes. It would be good to remind lurkers that their movements had been noted.

Half an hour later the chill weather had turned Greg’s fingers numb, but he was happy. Today, no teens were hovering in the shadows. Turning his collar up against the cold, he headed home via the back alley. All was well – or so Greg thought – which was why it was a shock to discover what lay on the other side of his garden gate.

He stopped dead in his tracks, unable to believe his eyes. The gardens at the rear of Gresham Terrace were divided by low fences. From where he was standing it was easy to see the smashed kitchen window.

Jade Ferguson’s house had been broken into.

Chapter Eighteen

Dee Parker was cooking her evening meal when she was alerted to a commotion coming from the rear of her house. She paused to listen. Jade Ferguson was shrieking at someone. She sighed. That woman was quite an attention-seeker.

Abandoning the stir-fry she’d been making, Dee switched off the hob. Dinner could wait. She wanted to see what was going on.

Opening the back door that issued out from the small galley kitchen, Dee peered outside. The fences separating the rear gardens were no higher than waist level, so she immediately spotted the small gathering huddled on Jade’s patio.

The girl was making a spectacle of herself – just like last night when Dee had narrowly avoided flattening Mrs Good. Afterwards, when Dee had walked past Jade, she’d observed an angry young woman looking like she’d wanted to punch someone.

From the moment Dee had introduced herself to Jade, she’d had some private reservations. Right now, Jade was proving herself to be nuttier than a packet of pistachios.

‘Hello?’ Dee called. She made sure she addressed Greg, rather than the irate Jade. ‘Is everything all right?’

She knew it was a ridiculous question because, if everything had been all right, there would not have been two police officers standing with Jade and Greg.

‘No, everything is not all right,’ Jade snapped.

‘What’s up?’ Dee casually asked, now making eye contact with the young woman.

‘I’ve been burgled.’

‘Oh my God!’ Dee instantly looked shocked, and one hand automatically fluttered to her chest. ‘When did this happen?’

‘Today,’ Jade quavered. A tear rolled down her cheek.

‘What’s been taken?’

‘Absolutely nothing.’

Jade’s tone was one of bewilderment. A break-in without theft.

‘Do you want help clearing up the mess?’ asked Dee.

‘There isn’t any.’ Jade swiped the tear with the back of one hand.

‘I take it you’re a neighbour, love?’ asked one of the coppers.

Nothing like asking the obvious, thought Dee.

‘Yes, I live here. I’m Jade’s immediate neighbour.’

‘I don’t suppose you heard or saw anything, did you?’

‘No, sorry.’ Dee shook her head. ‘Are you absolutely sure nothing has been taken?’

‘Yes,’ said Jade irritably. ‘Quite sure.’

‘Well, that’s a small blessing, eh?’ said Dee, giving Jade an encouraging smile.

‘We’re working on the assumption that whoever did this was interrupted,’ said the copper.

Dee nodded. ‘That would figure.’

But Jade was looking rattled. ‘I don’t agree.’

The officer raised his eyebrows. ‘You have an alternative suggestion?’

‘Yes,’ said Jade emphatically. ‘I most certainly do.’

At that moment, Brad Grimshaw sauntered through Jade’s rear gate.

‘Hey.’ He put up a hand in greeting. ‘Sorry to be a nosey neighbour. I burnt my toast and opened the kitchen window to let out the fug of smoke and heard raised voices. Has something happened?’

Jade was now visibly gnashing her teeth. ‘Clearly,’ she spat.

She’d had enough of this farce. Dee and Brad must be denser than the brick walls of Gresham Terrace. Why else would they ask such stupid questions?