“Is your mummy in?”
“She’s in the kitchen, making buns. She let me eat some chocolate cream out of the bowl.”
“Do you think I could have a word with her, Roger?”
“Who is it?” The female voice came from the back of the house.
“It’s a lady, Mummy.”
“What does she want?”
“What do you want?” Roger asked me.
“I’d like to talk to your mummy for a few minutes.”
“She says she wants to talk to you for a few minutes.”
His mother was wearing an apron covered in flour and chocolate cream.
“If you’re selling anything, I’m afraid we don’t buy at the door.” Was her opening gambit.
“I’m not selling anything.”
“Roger, go and wash your face. You’ve got chocolate all over it.” She ushered him away. “If you aren’t selling anything, what do you want?”
“My name is Jill Maxwell. I’m a private investigator.”
“Was it my husband you wanted to see? He’s at work at the moment.”
“No, I’m sure you’ll be able to answer my questions.”
“About what?”
“I’m investigating an alleged shooting that happened last week.”
“A shooting?” She looked shocked. “Around here?”
“There was a report of a shooting in the house next door.”
“Now I come to think of it, I did see a police car out front a few days ago. I just assumed there’d been another burglary. We’ve had a few around here recently. Was someone shot?”
“The police don’t seem to think so. In fact, when they spoke to your neighbours, they were told that no such shooting had taken place.”
“In that case, why are you here?”
“I’m working for the gentleman who witnessed the incident.”
“Who’s that?”
“I’m not at liberty to disclose his name, but he lives in one of the houses on the opposite side of the park.”
“And he reckons he saw a shooting from that distance away?”
“That’s right. I take it you didn’t hear anything unusual?”
“No, and if there had been a gunshot, we would definitely have heard it because these walls are awfully thin. The only thing we hear from next door is their incessant arguing.”
“Do they argue a lot?”
“All the time.”
“Can you tell me anything else about your neighbours?”
“Not really. They moved in about three years ago. Since then, I’ve probably spoken to them no more than half a dozen times, and then only to say hello. They aren’t particularly sociable and to be honest, neither are we. In fact, everyone around here tends to keep themselves to themselves. Look, I really do have to get back to my baking.”
“Of course. Thank you very much for your time.”
So far, it wasn’t looking good for Rusty, but I wasn’t one to give up easily, so I moved to the house next door but one. This time, when I rang the doorbell, a window on the first floor opened, and an elderly man stuck his head out.
“Are you the blind woman?”
That struck me as a curious question. “Err, no.”
“Are you sure? The man in the shop said the woman would be here to measure for the blinds about thirty minutes ago. Stay there. I’m coming down.”
I heard footsteps on the stairs and then the door opened. “Are you sure you’re not the blind woman?”
“Positive.”
“Have you seen her?”
“No, sorry.”
“Whatever happened to punctuality? That’s what I’d like to know.” He tapped his watch. “Thirty minutes I’ve been waiting for her. It really isn’t good enough. If you aren’t here to measure for the blinds, why are you here?”
“My name’s Jill Maxwell. I’m a private investigator.”
“Private investigator?” He looked me up and down. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
“Well, I never. I didn’t realise that women could do that kind of thing.”
“You’d be surprised what women can do.”
“What is it you’re investigating, young lady?”
“There’s been a report of a shooting in the house next door.”
“Good gracious? Are you sure?”
“Apparently, it was witnessed by someone who lives in one of the properties at the other side of the park.”
“How on Earth did they see it from over there? I can barely make out those houses from here.”
“Can I take it that you didn’t hear anything unusual from next door?”
“No, just the usual arguments. Those two are always going at it. It never stops. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them did shoot the other one. To be honest, it would be a blessing. How am I supposed to watch my cricket with all that racket going on?”
“Do you know your neighbours well?”
“I do not, and what’s more, I have absolutely no desire to. I like to keep myself to myself.”
“Can I ask, do you live here alone?”
“Yes. My wife, Jennifer, died fifteen years ago. Very inconsiderate of her if you ask me. I have to make my own meals now. It’s such a nuisance. And this house doesn’t keep itself tidy, you know. I don’t suppose you’re looking for a housekeeper’s job, are you?”
“Me? No, sorry.”
“Housekeepers are so difficult to come by, and even when you manage to get one, they only need the slightest excuse to leave. The last one complained because I left my dirty underwear on the bathroom floor.”
Gross! “Right, okay, well thank you very much for your time.”
“No problem, and if you happen to see the blind woman on your travels, would you tell her to get a move on?”
“Sure.”
“If you change your mind about the housekeeper’s job, come back and see me. The job’s yours for the asking.”
As I made my way back across the park, I was trying to figure out what to do about Rusty. If I told him that I was coming around to the police’s view that he’d imagined the whole thing, he would be devastated. In the end, I decided not to tell him anything
