Strangely, after talking to Callum, I feel much calmer. Less panicky. Almost back to my normal self. I decide I’m going to go next door and get his ball back for him. I can give it to him on Monday when he’s back on site. First, I’d better check on Daisy, make sure she’s still okay in her high chair. I stride back towards the house feeling altogether lighter. Seeing Callum reminded me of school. Of work. Of normality. Earlier, my mind had conjured up something sinister, when all along it was a teenage boy playing an innocent game of football. Maybe I over-reacted back at Martin’s place. I think I must have had some kind of panic attack. Even if there is something dodgy about Martin, he’s not about to grab me in broad daylight.
Daisy’s face lights up as I slide open the doors and walk over to her. She reaches out her arms to be picked up, and I undo the straps and lift her out.
‘Soon be time for your lunchtime sleep, Daisy Doo.’
She gives a happy gurgle in reply. I lock up the back and head out the front door before my nerve deserts me. I feel like I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone, but it feels good. Like I’m spitting in the eye of my fears. And Callum is a good kid. I’m glad to be getting his football back, to be doing something nice for him.
I walk past the sold sign in the Parkfields’ front garden, stand on the doorstep and ring the bell. A few seconds later, a very flustered Lorna opens the door. She’s wearing shorts and an old T-shirt, her normally perfect blonde hair scraped off her face in a messy bun. Her face is flushed and she scowls at me like I’m the last person she wants to see.
‘Hi, Lorna. Err, sorry, is this a bad time?’
‘No, it’s okay. I’m just trying to get stuff packed up. It’s all a bit chaotic in there.’
I move back as she steps outside onto the pathway and closes the door behind her.
‘I don’t envy you,’ I reply. ‘Packing is a nightmare.’
‘Try it with three kids,’ she says, no trace of a smile on her lips.
My request is probably not going to go down too well. ‘Well, sorry to disturb you, but a young lad I used to teach has accidentally kicked his football into your back garden. I was wondering if I could get it back for him.’
‘A football?’ she says. ‘What young lad?’
‘His name’s Callum.’
She heaves a sigh and shakes her head. ‘No,’ she says. ‘He most certainly cannot have his ball back. Now, if you’ll excuse me.’
‘Oh.’ I’m taken aback by the venom in her voice.
‘Look, Kirstie. There probably is no football. That boy has a crush on Hannah and he keeps hanging around our house. Is he still out there? If he is I’m going to tell him to piss off.’
‘He’s already gone.’
‘Good job. Where was he exactly?’
‘On the playing field behind your house. But he’s a nice lad, honestly. He’s harmless.’
‘How would you know?’ she snaps.
‘I used to be his art teacher.’ With anybody else, I’d put her rudeness down to moving stress, but Lorna has always been an uppity madam – and that’s a nice way of putting it. I bite back a rude retort and instead decide to ask her something else. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve heard a baby crying in our road? Apart from Daisy, that is?’
‘A baby?’ She frowns. ‘No.’
‘It’s just that I could’ve sworn I heard a baby crying the other day, and I’m worried about Mart—’
‘Look, Kirstie, like I said before, I’m a bit busy and I really haven’t got time to stand around chatting. Some other time, okay?’
Yeah, like the twelfth of never. ‘Sure, sorry, I’ll leave you in peace.’ I turn to go.
‘Kirstie…’
I turn around, wondering if she’s going to apologise.
No such luck. Lorna is back inside her hallway, a scowl etched onto her face. ‘If you see Callum Carson hanging around here again, tell him if I see him I’ll call the police.’
‘Why? What’s he done?’
‘Oh, just mind your own business, Kirstie.’ She turns away and slams the door.
I stand there for a moment, unable to believe her cheek. I was only trying to help someone out. Well, that was a complete waste of time. I’ll be glad when the Parkfields have finally left Magnolia Close.
Thirteen
By the time Dominic gets back from his swim training, it’s almost six o’clock. He walks in bearing flowers and chocolates by way of an apology, as he went for a quick drink with his mates afterwards. I’m so pleased to see him that I don’t give him any hassle for being late back. Anyway, I spent the rest of this afternoon moving Daisy’s cot back into our room and I know Dom won’t be happy about it. She’s outgrown the Moses basket and it’s not fair to make her sleep in it with her head wedged up against the end. But Dom won’t want her back in our room permanently.
Five minutes later, he’s standing in our bedroom with his arms folded across his chest as he frowns at the cot. ‘Kirst, I’m sorry, but I can’t do it.’
‘She’s our daughter,’ I reply.
‘Yes, and I love her, but I also need to get a good night’s sleep. I’ve got work tomorrow. She was perfectly happy sleeping in her own room before. If she wasn’t happy, I’d have her in with us like a shot, you know I would.’
‘What about my happiness?’ I ask, sitting on the bed with a whump.
‘Kirstie, you’re worried after what happened with the baby monitor. But everything is fine. She’s only in the next room. Daisy is completely safe in there.’
‘You hope.’ I have a sudden thought. ‘We should get an alarm installed.’
‘An alarm?’ He raises his eyebrows. ‘How much would that cost? We don’t need an alarm. This isn’t exactly a high-crime area. Anyway, who needs an alarm when we’ve got Martin, King of the Neighbourhood Watch, living next door? It’s like having our own personal guard dog – granted, he’s probably more of a Chihuahua than a Rottweiler, but you get my point.’
‘He’s part of the reason I want an alarm.’
‘Martin? He’s boring, but harmless.’
‘I’m not so sure. He came round again today.’
‘Oh yeah?’
‘Wanted me to check some measurements at number six. But that’s not the reason I’m worried. When I went into his house, I saw something weird – did you know he’s got a basement?’
‘No. But what’s that got to do with anything?’
‘None of the other houses in our close has got a basement.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Well, ours hasn’t, Mel’s hasn’t.’
‘So? Have you got basement envy or something?’
I roll my eyes. ‘Don’t you think it’s odd? I wonder why his house has got one and ours hasn’t. Weren’t all these houses built at the same time? Do you think he might have built the basement himself?’
‘Dunno.’ He grins and lowers his voice. ‘Maybe he’s got a red room down there.’
‘A what?’
‘You know,’ he says in an exaggerated whisper. ‘Maybe he’s got sex slaves.’
‘Ugh! Don’t say that!’ Is it weird that Dom has mentioned exactly what I had been thinking?
‘It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch.’ Dom winks.
‘The thing is,’ I say, picking a stray hair off the bed and letting it fall onto the carpet, ‘I also noticed some Toy Shack carrier bags in his house, but he doesn’t have any kids.’
‘So?’
‘So, what if he’s got a baby down there? What if that baby I heard the other night is in his house right now? Remember that fake baby his wife had? That doll? Maybe he’s got a real one down there now. He really creeped me out today, and I’m not kidding, I’m worried for Daisy’s safety.’
‘Did he say something to you?’ Dom’s eyes narrow. ‘Threaten you?’
‘No, not really.’
‘So he didn’t do or say anything to you?’
‘No. It’s just… it’s just a feeling I had.’
‘Want me to have a word with him?’ Dom says, his expression still serious.
‘Maybe. No. I don’t know. What would you say?’
‘I dunno, something like, Hi Martin, can I have a look in your cellar to check for missing babies?’ Dom smiles.
‘It’s not funny.’
‘I know, but really, what do you want me to do about it? The man hasn’t actually done anything.’
‘Don’t you believe me?’
‘Of course I believe you, but if he’s got some hidden torture chamber he’s keeping secret, don’t you think he’d have hidden the entrance, not had a door for everyone to see?’
I guess Dom has a point, but it seemed to me like Martin pushed that door shut a little too quickly. ‘Martin also said something else…’
‘What?’
‘He said he’s seen you at the Cliffords’ place a few times.’ I study Dom’s face for his reaction.
Dom frowns briefly and then gives a laugh. ‘Moaning Myrtle’s been spying on me? Hilarious. Yeah, I’ve been over to Jimmy’s – he’s invited me over for a quick beer a couple of times after work.’