said, releasing her.
Jade grimaced by way of response. Stepping into Brad’s hallway, she noticed it was identical to Number 3’s in shape, but that was where the similarity ended. The entrance to Jade’s property was decorated in drab brown with a fussy wallpaper offset by a dark cord carpet. Brad’s hallway sported stark white walls smothered in colourful canvasses that contrasted artfully with varnished floorboards.
Jade noticed the paintings were originals. Brad must have paid a fortune for them. He spotted her looking at them.
‘Before you ask, I’m the artist.’
‘You?’ The remark inadvertently came out as a scoff.
‘Yes. Don’t sound so surprised.’ He jerked his head at the door to the lounge. ‘Make yourself comfortable.’
Jade wandered in. The room was home to more artwork. Sinking down on one of the sofas, she grudgingly admired Brad’s talent.
‘Where did you learn to paint like that?’
‘Oh, during… a difficult period in my life.’
‘Art school?’
Brad thought back to his time in prison where the one joy in some very dark days had been messing about with acrylics.
‘Yeah, art school,’ he said quickly. ‘Can I get you a brandy? It’s great stuff for assisting with shock, and you look shaken up.’
Jade didn’t usually touch the stuff, but right now she felt severely out of sorts. A brandy might help take the edge off her anxiety.
‘Yes, please.’
Brad went over to a sideboard and peered inside. There was some clinking as he moved things around within, looking for the brandy. A moment later and the bottle was sitting on the surface, along with two glasses. Neither of them spoke as the liquid glugged into a couple of glass balloons.
‘Here,’ he said, handing her the drink. ‘Be sure to warm it in your hands first.’
‘Sod that,’ mumbled Jade, as she took a gulp. She needed calming now, not in five minutes.
Brad sat down at the other end of the sofa. He’d already decided to simply listen to Jade and patiently agree with whatever she spouted – anything to prevent her from having a pop at poor old Greg. The guy didn’t deserve someone begging for an argument, especially so soon after being bereaved.
‘So, you’ve had a hell of a day, eh?’ he enquired gently.
‘I… yeah.’
‘Did things not go well with your parents earlier?’
For a moment Jade looked blank, and then she remembered her lie to Brad. However, she wasn’t going to tell him all about the session with her counsellor.
‘No, my being upset isn’t anything to do with Mum and Dad.’
She waved a hand dismissively. Where to begin? With the perfume bottles that had mysteriously moved about? Or the rearranged shoeboxes? Or maybe with the disappearing magic eye clocks? If the latter, she’d have to begin her story even further back, before the attempted break-in and smashed kitchen window. Right now, her thought processes felt scrambled.
‘Why was Dee here?’ she blurted.
Brad looked confused. ‘Is that what’s really upset you?’
Jade flushed. ‘No! God… no. I meant… Dee didn’t look too impressed at being excluded from sharing a nightcap with you.’ Jade struggled to come up with a reason that sounded plausible. ‘I was curious, that’s all.’
‘Ah,’ Brad grinned. ‘A nosy neighbour.’
Jade could feel her pink cheeks turning scarlet. ‘No, honestly–’
‘It’s okay, I’m just teasing,’ he said kindly. ‘Dee kind of invited herself over. She bumped into me earlier. It was obvious she wanted to have a chat. I think she’s lonely.’
‘Aren’t we all?’ Jade muttered.
‘Well, yeah, sometimes, but likely to a lesser degree,’ Brad pointed out. ‘You have your cat as a companion, plus your parents aren’t far away. I, too, have family nearby. From what Dee was telling me, her kids are adults and have moved miles away. One is in America. The other, Scotland.’
‘Right.’
The two of them were silent for a moment. Jade took another sip of brandy.
‘Were the fish and chips nice?’ she ventured.
Brad smiled. ‘Yes.’
‘And the wine?’
‘The wine was nice too.’ His eyes were twinkling mischievously.
‘Do you like her?’
The brandy was rapidly loosening Jade’s tongue. She could feel her inhibitions shedding at an alarming rate.
‘She seems like a pleasant lady.’
‘That’s not what I meant.’
‘I know what you meant,’ he acknowledged, his eyes holding hers.
‘She likes you,’ Jade ploughed on.
‘I know.’
‘Did she kiss you?’
Jade couldn’t believe she was asking such personal questions.
‘Would it matter if she had?’
Jade shrugged. ‘I… I’m not sure.’
‘I’m not interested in Dee Parker.’
‘Right,’ said Jade, feeling horribly awkward. Her hands fluttered around the stem of the glass balloon. ‘Can I have another brandy?’
‘Sure.’
Brad stood up. Leaning across, he took the glass from Jade,