The Stranger Next Door Read Online Free

still not seen him either,' Anna said with disappointment. She'd hoped "Moorside"'s front door might have opened to a man.
    'No sign of life at all,' Derek added, 'though some work's been done recently in the garden.'
    'At night. That's when he does it.'
    'So you said.' Derek shook his head and sighed. 'It's a funny situation, isn't it? The least bit of trouble, mind, you give me a ring, like I said. Any time. Day or night. I'll be up here in a couple of minutes. Don't bother ringing the police. It'll take them an hour or two to get here – if they can spare anyone.'
    Anna felt worried now. 'It's not going to come to that, surely?'
    'No.' Derek shook his head. 'I'm sure it isn't. I'd like to know who he is, though.'
    'Me, too.'
    'Well, don't worry. I tell you what I'll do. I'll get on to the estate agent who sold the house. See what they can tell me about the mystery buyer.'
    'Would you? Oh, that's a good idea! Why didn't I think of that?'
    'Someone must know something about him.' Derek said slowly. 'And that's one place to start. If I run into Eddy Rogers, I'll ask him if he can make some enquiries, as well. He might be only a Special Constable but he knows the community. There must be someone out there who knows who this man is.'
    'There is, actually,' Anna said slowly. 'He had a woman visitor earlier today.'
    'Oh? Did she get into the house?'
    Anna nodded. 'She seemed to have her own key.'
    'Did she now! Well, well. There you are, then. That sounds better. Perhaps it's a more normal situation than we were beginning to fear. Don't you worry any more.'
    Anna smiled. 'Me? Worry?'
    She felt a lot better after Derek's visit. She even began to wonder if her worrying might all have been unnecessary.
    *
    There was music that night, beautiful, haunting music. For perhaps half an hour a solitary violin whispered and sang through the gardens. For once, Anna didn't mind being kept awake by noise from next door. When it was over she fell asleep, and she slept till morning.
    As she dressed, she glanced out of the bedroom window. She was just in time to see a now familiar car pull into the drive of "Moorside". The woman she had now seen several times got out.
    Anna studied her. She looked to be in her mid-forties. Fifty, at the most. Slim. Short, fair hair. Dressed in fawn trousers and a casual red jacket. She was presentable enough, but not a jolly-looking woman. Definitely not a fun-loving, smiling sort of woman. She looked intense and serious. Too much so.
    The woman walked round to the back of the car, a small hatchback, lifted the rear door and took out several plastic bags. She'd been supermarket shopping, from the look of it. So, Anna thought, she'd travelled a fair way.
    The woman set off towards the front door of the house. Anna wondered if she would stay this time or if she was only visiting again.
    *
    'Mum, can I go and play with Katy today?' Lisa asked over breakfast.
    'Yes, if she's in. Shall we phone to see?'
    Katy was a friend Lisa didn't see a lot of, but clearly she had risen to the top of the list of desirable people to visit. Perhaps it was just to get away from home.
    'I'll play with Katy, as well,' Tom announced.
    'I don't think so,' Lisa said sharply. 'I really don't think so.'
    'I will!' Tom insisted.
    'Not today, Tom,' Anna intervened. 'We'll do something different. I don't know what yet, but we will. We'll walk Lisa down to Katy's, if she's in. Then you and I will think of something we can do.'
    The school holiday might get to seem a long one this year, Anna thought. She was going to run out of ideas for amusement if she wasn't careful. Still, it was a nice problem to have, being with the children every day. At least it ought to be! she thought, a shade desperately.
    Katy was at home that day. Even better, her mother was thrilled at the prospect of company for her. Anna smiled as the other woman explained her predicament.
    'I can't get on with anything. The minute I start, Katy has a little tantrum or announces