Page 50 of The Facilitator: Part 2
“I believeso.”
“Then also tell me, how did they get to the Khan houseundetected?”
Mackenzie stared at the securityguard.
“I just came on shift, but that was my first thought. I’ve gone through all the CCTV of vehicle movements, and there isn’t a vehicle that has entered this complex we aren’t awareof.”
“Can someone have garden hopped from beyond this complex?” Iasked.
Mackenzie didn’t appear to understand what I’dsaid.
“The first house on this complex, its garden backs onto George Street. Could someone have literally climbed into their garden, then the next, then the Khan property to ours?” Iasked.
“Well, yes, of course they could have. All I can say is there wasn’t a vehicle we didn’t have registered that came along this dead-endstreet.”
“Okay, thank you. What did the policesay?”
“Not in so many words, but it wasn’t a priority. There was no physical break-in and trespassing isn’t something they’re interested in. But it was reported and we were told someone would come along within the next day orso.”
“Can you email me that clip?” Mackenzieasked.
“I’d have to ask head office. Mr. Khan pays us to monitor his CCTV so I’d need to ask about sharing the information. It hasn’t been a problem in the past, but would you allow me time tocheck?”
Mackenzie fished around in his wallet for a business card. He handed it over and said he’d appreciate that clip as soon as possible if allowable, while reminding the guard he also paid for his CCTV system to be monitored by the same company. He then instructed our driver we’d walk from where we were and he could return back to theoffice.
It was a short walk to our gate. Mackenzie walked from side to side and watched the cameras mounted on the brick columns move with him. The previous owner, Mackenzie told me, had installed the system, and he hadn’t really bothered about updating it. Our house had a wall and electric gates, the whole street contributed towards the on-site security; it was exceptionally rare for a break-in to besuccessful.
“What do you think?” Iasked.
“A chancer maybe. I don’t honestly know. I’ll call the company to make some adjustments. I mean, once they got into the garden, where the fuck did they think they’d go from there? They can’t get into thehouse.”
“They could smash a window,” Isaid.
“They could, obviously, but when this system goes off, it’s like a fucking air raid siren. It would have blown their eardrums. I’m more annoyed they managed to get through three gardens before they got to us without beingcaught.”
“Are you worried?” I asked. I wasn’t sure I was happy at the thought we had anintruder.
“No, and I don’t want you to be, either. The house is secure, and let’s say someone did manage to get in, anything important is in the safe and they’re not going to get inthat.”
The safe was behind a false wall in the back of Mackenzie’s closet. It was unlikely anyone would find it, let alone be able to break intoit.
It didn't matter we hadn’t experienced a break-in, and Mackenzie could reassure me as much as he liked, I spent that whole evening on tenterhooks. I put it down to Alex and Gabriella moving, and to the changes at work. I tried, unsuccessfully, to push the intruder to the back of mymind.
In the early hours of the morning something woke me. I reached over to find myself in an empty bed. I threw back the duvet and pulled on a shirt of Mackenzie’s that was hanging over the back of a chair. I padded, barefoot, along the hallway and down the stairs. I didn’t see a light under the door to his home office, so turned to head to thekitchen.
“Hey, are you okay?” Iasked.
Mackenzie stood with his back to the counter, a cup of coffee in his hand. He was completelynaked.
“Should you be drinking that this time of the night?” Iadded.
“I couldn’t sleep, I thought my tossing and turning would disturbyou.”
He was lit by the under cupboard strip lighting, a soft orange glow warmed his skin. He placed his cup down on the countertop and held out his arms. I stepped into his embrace and he nuzzled the side of myneck.
“You smell of me,” he said, with achuckle.
I was sure he meant he could smell his aftershave on hisshirt.
