as Jade regarded her neighbour. She just wanted him to go away. Was it such an issue if he took her contact details? Probably not. Maybe her mind was doing its usual thing. Making nothing into something.
‘It’s really no big deal,’ Greg assured.
‘I guess not.’ Reluctantly, she gave him the number. ‘I trust you won’t pass it on to anyone else?’
‘Only if the police were involved. Purely hypothetical, of course. Meanwhile, be assured that we’re all one big happy family at Gresham Terrace.’
His flat tone didn’t match the words of warmth, and Jade gave an involuntary shudder.
‘You’re shivering,’ he said. ‘I mustn’t keep you hanging around in the cold.’
Greg moved away, heading towards Jade’s front garden gate. She turned her attention back to the suitcase. The uneven step had broken one of its wheels.
‘Don’t ever worry about getting locked out,’ he called, pausing at the gate.
Jade looked up.
‘Why would I?’ she asked, puzzled. ‘I’ve never locked myself out.’
‘There’s always a first time. It happens to the best of us.’ Greg smiled thinly. ‘But should you find yourself in that situation, you’ll be relieved to know that I’m a keyholder.’
Jade froze. Abandoning the suitcase, she walked the few steps to the gate.
‘I beg your pardon?’
She was aware of her obtuseness but didn’t care. No way did she want this creep having access to her home.
‘I have a set of keys to this house.’
‘I heard you the first time.’
‘I also hold keys to next door,’ he added, as if to reassure her. ‘Mrs Sims – the owner – once had a tenant who locked themselves out. The property agent had mislaid the spare key and Mrs Sims was abroad at the time. She had quite an argument with the agent about the key displacement. The tenant took it upon themselves to bust the pane in the door.’ Greg pointed one finger at the square of glass set in the top half of the wooden panels. ‘They broke it to reach the latch and let themselves in, but then refused to pay for a glazier. Mrs Sims was livid. She didn’t want it happening again, so asked me to be a keyholder to both properties. Naturally, I said yes. I don’t mind.’
‘Well I bloody do!’ said Jade indignantly.
‘Excuse me?’
‘You heard. I don’t even know you, yet you have a key to my house.’
‘Mrs Sims’ house,’ Greg corrected.
‘Whatever,’ said Jade rudely. ‘I’d like you to hand over that spare key.’
‘Sorry but I can’t do that,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘Mrs Sims wouldn’t approve. I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to discuss it with you.’ Greg opened the small gate that separated the tiny front garden from the pavement. ‘But there’s really no need to fret. As I said, I have a key to all the houses in Gresham Terrace. I’m totally trustworthy,’ he assured, his voice softer than velvet. ‘Of that I give you my word.’
Jade glared at him.
‘Rest assured I will be speaking to the lettings agency.’
‘You do that,’ said Greg. ‘I’d better get back to Mother. See you around.’
Not if I can help it, thought Jade.
She stomped back to her suitcase, tugging hard on the wretched thing so that it suddenly catapulted over the step and into the hallway.
Slamming the front door shut, Jade leant against it. Her body was vibrating with anger. No way was Greg Good having access to this house. No way was anyone having the chance to invade her space. It had happened once before, and she would never permit it to happen again.
Over her dead body.
Chapter Three
Inside the house, Jade slowly exhaled. This place was now her home. The love nest she’d shared with Tom had long gone, as had the job as his PA.
Her last day at the office had been memorable for all the wrong reasons. It had been a Monday morning, following on from a horrible weekend. Once again, she’d been let down by Tom failing to fulfil yet another empty promise about moving in. Jade had simmered all weekend, determined to have it out with him once at work.
Upon arrival at the office, Jade had discovered two things. The first was that Tom was already in an early-bird meeting with a client. The second was being fed a bit of gossip that was so outrageous a red mist had descended.
Jade had stormed into the boardroom. Tom had been talking to an aging actress who’d once been a Hollywood siren, but now looked like a TV extra from Benidorm. However, the actress