Page 33 of Gem Warfare

“Good to know. Okay, see you at Mom and Dad’s soon?”

“See you there,” Garrett agreed and disconnected.

Chapter Eight

Like Garrett, my next best step seemed to be centered on the house’s history. I hadn’t made much note of the residents at the end of the street over the years, less so once I’d moved into my own place. I was sure I recalled sale signs but I couldn’t be sure when. As a teen, I’d mostly been interested in the immediate neighbors or the homes where Lily and I had friends and often hung out.

Yet it seemed my time might be best served knocking on some doors and asking what the immediate neighbors remembered. Garrett planned on doing the same thing, but I could narrow the search. Plus, I could drop in on Mom and Dad directly afterwards.

As I headed to the neighborhood, myriad ideas whizzed through my mind but they were less about Roger the corpse, and more leaning towards the person who’d buried him. Was it one person or more? Would a woman be strong enough to dig a grave, move the body, and conceal it? Or was our mystery gravedigger more likely to have been a man? Why didn’t the neighbors notice a missing neighbor? Did the digging happen at night? Were the residents known for night gardening, or had the neighbors turned a blind eye?

By the time I parked at the end of the block — a squad car parked outside, and crime tape spanning the downed sections of fence — I had more questions than answers.

I started with the immediate neighbor but there was no answer and the house seemed still and lifeless. The mailbox had a number of items inside and the small, soft parcel on the porch carried a date from four days ago. All the blinds and drapes were shut. I tried the house on the other side of the empty one but the bespectacled man told me in halting English that they had livedthere just five years. Another dead end.

Returning to the end house, I crossed the road and entered the yard of the opposing end house.

“Hello?” The woman who answered the door had a sweep of white hair, a floral housecoat, and was using a walker.

“Hi, I’m looking for some information about the house over there,” I said, pointing.

“Oh, yes? The detective last night told me what happened. I sat up and watched them take the body. Imagine that! A body! Probably the most exciting thing to happen in this neighborhood in forever.” Her crinkled eyes lit up.

“Have you lived here long?”

“Oh, yes. My husband and I bought this house in the seventies. Brought up our children here and now they bring their children to visit.”

“That’s lovely. You must remember some of the residents across the street?” I asked, struggling to recall any children. Perhaps they’d been my older siblings’ contemporaries, not mine.

“Can’t say I was friendly with any of them beyond saying hello. We were good friends with the other side but they’re gone now.”

“Moved away?”

“In a word, heaven.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There’s a lovely couple of girls there now. I think they’re best friends. Raising their kids together too! The kids call both of them Mom. Isn’t that the nicest?”

“Of course,” I agreed.

“Very over familiar with each other,” she added, frowning. “Always cuddling. Sorry, what were you asking?”

“If you remembered any of the residents from that house,” I said, pointing to the house across the street.

“No, can’t say I do. I think the house changed hands a few times.”

“Nothing stands out? No fights? Or anything like that?”

“Maybe. I suppose everyone fights some time, but, no, can’t say I noticed anything. I’m not sure I’d remember at my age. I’m not sure what I had for breakfast.” Footsteps sounded behind her and young woman in a nurse-style uniform, a navy tabard embroidered with “Home Help” came out.

“It’s time we got you some lunch, Miss Pearl,” she said, smiling.

“This is Ronnie. She helps me out. I call it bossing me around.”

“I do a little of both,” said Ronnie, chuckling now. “Can I help you with anything?”

“I’m a private investigator,” I said, showing my license. Ronnie took it, examining it with interest before returning it. “I’m looking into what happened next door.”

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