I’m thankful that Ruby had the decency to wait for Morgan to go inside before she starts. She pulls out a letter, grabs my hand and slaps the piece of paper into it.
‘What’s this?’ I know it’s a letter but I’m going to force her to explain why she’s given it to me.
She folds her arms. Snowflakes rest on the top of her head. ‘You tell me?’
‘No,’ I reply, not unfolding the piece of paper. ‘You tell me.’ I press it into her chest and let go. I’ve had it with these people. Someone has been spying on us in our home, sneaking around our house scaring us half to death and here Ruby is, getting ready to accuse me, or us, of sending her a nasty letter. ‘Go on,’ I say.
She opens it and clears her throat. ‘I’ll read it then. “Neighbour. One day, that gas fire you have in your main living space might just be leaking carbon monoxide. Have you checked to see if your batteries in your detector work? Also, your balcony looks like it needs tending to. It’s a bit rickety and it would be so easy to fall to your death. I’m just trying to be a helpful neighbour. Wouldn’t want you to get hurt or wouldn’t want you to go missing, just like poor little Jasmine. A concerned friend.”’ She folds the letter back up. ‘I don’t know how or when, but you’ve been in our house. Your aunt was batty and you clearly are too. I mean, this only started when you moved in, and mentioning the balcony, really? What’s your game? Seriously, what is it with you people?’
I can’t hide my shock at the letter and especially the mention of the detector, falling and Jasmine. It’s all about her. It always has been and me coming here has brought back her memory. The article flashes through my mind again and then I think of the Welcome to the Neighbourhood app that Quinn had open. Jasmine is missing. I stare at Ruby, whose brows have now creased. Is she Jasmine? Is Jasmine here, somewhere, somehow? She’s come back to get her revenge and yes, I’m terrified.
‘Well, say something.’ Ruby stares at me.
I can barely look at her. When I catch a glimpse of her face, I can’t tell if she’s… I gasp and feel like choking on my words. My throat is closing up on me as I try to speak. Ruby’s hair is heavily dyed black. She’s wearing chunky black, thick-rimmed glasses, again. Her coat is more gothic than the pretty-in-pink clothing that Jasmine used to wear. I can’t make out if I know the person behind the glasses. I barely knew Jasmine.
‘Jasmine, is that you?’
Thirty-Five
Gemma
I’m standing in the lane watching Ruby walk away from me. She didn’t answer my question; she just looked at me as if I’m mad. The details of the letter whirl through my mind. The person who wrote it is fixated on balconies.
I catch sight of Tessa and her husband. Ray is also standing in the lane. They all stare at me. Tessa’s arms are folded and she’s slowly shaking her head. She unfolds her arms and butts in. ‘I have a letter too. Can I read it? What fun.’ Her face contorts into a fake smile. ‘“Lovely neighbour, just watch your step in the dark because I know you’re up in the night, creeping around with only your hands to guide you so you don’t wake hubby up. It’s easy to fall down the stairs when you can’t see, but then again, you could never see, could you? You didn’t see anything back then and you don’t see anything now. Actually, don’t turn the lights on because hubby doesn’t want to see you. He might even be the one who gives you the nudge. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has been murdered with a nudge.”’
What if Aunt Dorette was actually pushed? It’s something I’ve considered. One of the people on this lane could be a murderer. I reach for the streetlamp and gasp for breath. The more I hear, the more I know this is all about Jasmine and my aunt’s fall or murder. Is Tessa genuine or is she writing these letters? Maybe she wrote some to herself to keep the heat off her. I realise this theory could apply to anyone.
Ray storms off and comes back a few seconds later with something wrapped in a sheet. ‘These were in our bed and it’s you who keeps staring up at our bedroom all the time.’
Of course I do, because he is always watching us. I am not looking at him, it’s the other way around, but these people won’t be convinced. One of them is behind all this and it’s not me.
Ray opens the sheet up to show me four razor blades. I’m shaking now. I would never do that. I couldn’t even get into his house if I wanted.
‘Came in through my side window, didn’t you? You may have broken my glass but you won’t break me.’ His eyes are wide. ‘I bet you think you’re so clever too for smashing my cameras with stones. Good shot by the way and that’s not a compliment. It’s like when you were a kid, sneaking around, playing menacing pranks and your stupid aunt never disciplined you once.’
Tears fill my eyes as they start to talk over each other, having a go at me. ‘Stop,’ I yell. I have had a day from hell and all I want to do is go inside and be with my family. ‘You lot are looking to blame me because I’m new here and Ray, I know we don’t see eye to eye over your parking and you knew me when I was a kid and I wasn’t always on my best behaviour. I’ve grown up since. I’m not a kid now. I didn’t write the letters and I didn’t break into your house.’ I swallow nervously. ‘We’ve spent half the day at the police station because last night, one of you’ – I point to each of them in turn with my trembling index finger then I swallow again – ‘one of you broke into our house and you took Quinn’s dog. That poor dog nearly fell from our balcony while the intruder escaped. Today, we found that someone had been recording us. Last night they broke in to swap the hard drive but don’t worry, the police have it all. Someone also left us a horrible letter,’ I yell. ‘Which one of you assholes is behind this?’
I snatch the letter from Tessa, throw it to the ground and I stamp all over it before picking it up again and throwing it at her. If they want something to be angry about, I’m going to give them something. ‘Which one of you small-minded tossers was in the woods watching our kids while they walked a dog? Who crashed into me and knocked me flying? You’re sick, you know that – watching kids.’ I want to threaten them with the police, but I doubt the police have much time for us at the moment. I hate this place.
‘But…’ Tessa speaks up. ‘These letters are written in your aunt’s writing. She used to send us cards, always strangely written in black ink capitals. It has to be you. You’d know her writing.’
I snort out a laugh. ‘You all had cards from Aunt Dorette, written in black ink capital letters and it has to be me? Seriously? That’s an easy one to replicate. It could be any of you.’
My mind goes back to Jasmine. I want to ask them if they’d ever heard anything else regarding her disappearance but I daren’t. I’ll only get the blame for that too. It was risky accusing Ruby of being Jasmine. I need to speak to Quinn. She’s the only person I trust enough to ask.
Shouting comes from everywhere.
‘You always were trouble.’ Tessa points at me.
‘I knew it was you who killed my fish.’ Ray throws the razor blades next to where I stand.
‘Stay away from us or God help you,’ Tessa shouts.
They all stare. I feel as though I’m the final victim in a horror film and I’m not getting out of this alive. The world is spinning again. I am so dehydrated, I could pass out right now. I almost topple.
‘Stop.’ Zoe pushes the crowd out of the way. ‘I thought I heard a commotion going on. Get lost. Go home, all of you. How dare you do this to her. She’s as much of a victim as all of you. Scram.’ She pushes Ray, and Tessa is already heading back to her house. ‘Are you all right, love?’
I hold onto her until I can steady myself. ‘I didn’t send any of those letters. Why won’t they believe me?’
