Neighborhood Watch (26 page)

“Therefore, we propose to establish a Neighborhood Watch patrol manned by all of us,”

she said and paused. There was a quiet murmur in the audience.

“Wait a minute,” Frank Mateo said rising. “Are you suggesting we become security

guards? I’m not trained to be a security guard. I’m an accountant. As I look around here, I don’t see too many people who could qualify to serve as night policemen.”

“We’re not asking you to be a policeman,” Nikki retorted. “None of us are expected to confront a thief.”

“I’m glad of that,” Frank said, nodding. There was a murmur of approval.

“But what we are capable of doing is showing a presence,” Nikki came back quickly.

“We’ll all carry flashlights and whistles. The leader of the patrol, who will be one of the members of the executive board, will also carry a beeper and will be able to alert the security guard at the gate should the patrol come upon anyone or anything suspicious.”

“Still sounds dangerous to me,” Frank said. “Why don’t we just hire more security?”

“Some of you have already expressed dissatisfaction with the rising cost of our

homeowner’s fee as it is,” Philip replied. “How many are willing to raise their

homeowner’s fee another thirty to fifty percent?” Only a few hands went up.

“Well, why can’t we get the sheriff to patrol our development more?” Paul Meltzer

suggested. There was a chorus of agreement.

“I’ve already been in discussion with the sheriff,” Nikki said. “He says there have been some serious cutbacks in his budget and he’s had to reduce his staff by three. The county sheriff’s office can’t expand its patrols.”

The room was still.

“Well, maybe we oughta look into investing in some television cameras,” Bill Kimble said.

“Do you know how expensive that could be, Bill? Also, anyone can get around a camera, especially at night,” Nikki replied, shooting him down quickly.

“What I’m suggesting,” she continued after a pause, “is not a big deal. The patrols won’t be much longer than forty-five minutes to an hour at most. My committee and I will

construct a roster of three people, two of you and one of us to do a single night patrol each and every night. If you or your husband or wife can’t make your patrol, it will be your responsibility to arrange for someone to substitute. You may trade your own patrol with someone else in the development.”

“You want women on these patrols, too?” Susan Lester asked.

“Why not? We’re not asking you to physically attack someone. We’re asking you to be part of a presence to ward off would-be thieves and to warn us if something is

happening.” She waited a moment and then panned the audience. “Any other

comments?”

“Do we need special uniforms?” Frank Mateo asked.

“Of course not. This is a citizen patrol. One thing I want everyone to understand,

however, is that we will not keep to the streets only. Wear old shoes or boots because we’re going to wander through yards and on the perimeter, especially near the lakeshore since that’s where the police suspect our intruder made his entry. Is there anyone here who has a problem with the patrol moving through his or her property?”

No one responded.

“Good,” Philip said. “Thank you, Nikki. Nikki will have the roster out tomorrow and we’ll begin with our first patrol tomorrow night. I have already spoken to Dan Spiro at the
Herald
and he will have a reporter and a photographer here to get the story and take pictures. I want to publicize the fact that our little community is doing something about a breach of security. I believe this will discourage other potential criminals and also will reinforce the belief that Emerald Lakes is a special place to live, despite what occurred here last night.”

“Do the police know anything yet?” Barry Lester asked.

“I spoke with the detective in charge just before I came home from work today,” Philip replied. “He and his partner did find evidence supporting the theory that someone rowed himself across the lake and rowed himself back. They believe it was one man. From the shoe size and imprint, they’re estimating him to be about one hundred and seventy

pounds, probably around six feet tall.”

“That’s not much of a description,” Lester complained.

“They’re working on it.

“Did anyone see anything suspicious last night between eight and ten? I told him I would ask just in case he might have missed someone.”

“The way it was raining, who could see anything?” Kay Meltzer said. People nodded. No one raised his or her hand.

“Okay. Are there any other questions?”

“The streetlight is out on my corner,” Bill Kimble said.

“That’s something our Neighborhood Watch patrol would pick up,” Nikki underscored.

“Thank you.”

“Anyone else?” After a moment of silence, Philip said, “Okay, thanks for coming.” The meeting broke up.

“I don’t know if I should have said something or not,” Arlene Hoffman whispered to

Kristin as they both stood.

“What?”

“We came home last night about eight-thirty.”

“And?”

“The gate was open when Gary and I returned. Gary thought the guard had just stepped off somewhere to go to the bathroom.”

“Did you tell the police?”

“Police? No, no one asked me anything. Why, do you think I should?”

“Absolutely,” Kristin said. “That means the killer could have come through the front gate. Was it close to eight-thirty?”

“Yes. But anyway, Philip Slater just said the police were positive the killer came from the lake. Gary was probably right, and I hate to get someone in trouble for something like that,” she said with a grimace.

“But why was the gate left open?”

“In case someone came while he was indisposed, don’t you think?”

Kristin shrugged.

“I don’t know. I think the police should be told anyway,” she said.

“I’ll tell Gary to call them,” Arlene said, but Kristin didn’t have much faith that she would. “How are you feeling? I know how these things can affect someone in your

condition.”

“I’m okay. I’m not letting it get too deeply into me, if you know what I mean.”

Arlene smiled and patted her hand.

“You call the doctor anytime you want,” she said.

“Thank you.”

Teddy stepped up to her as Arlene Hoffman walked away. “So? What do you think?”

“I think we should have uniforms and ranks. Then Nikki could have more stripes and

finally be happy,” Kristin replied. He smirked and took her arm to lead her along.

“You don’t have to like her, Kristin. I’m not saying I do. But she did do a lot of good work today and this idea is a good one. Even if it only serves to help people breathe easier.”

When they reached the upstairs, Marilyn Slater tapped Kristin on the arm.

“How’s Jennifer?” she asked. “I’m sure it was a terrible time for her.”

“Horrible. She’s probably going to ask to sleep in our bed tonight.”

Marilyn nodded and then smiled.

“Let me give you one of my dolls for her. Maybe it will bring her some comfort.”

“Oh, really, I—”

“No. I insist, please.”

Kristin looked at Teddy who smiled and nodded.

“Thank you.”

Kristin followed Marilyn back to the doll room.

“Let me give her one of my nicer dolls,” Marilyn thought aloud. “Oh, I know, this one,”

she said and plucked the Dutch girl off the shelf.

“That looks like an expensive one.”

“It doesn’t matter. Please, take it for her.”

“This is very nice of you,” Kristin said, accepting the doll.

“It’s so horrible and so frightening for everyone, not just children,” Marilyn said, shaking her head. “To be plucked off the street by shadows. Horrible.”

“Shadows?”

Marilyn stared at her a moment.

“I mean men.”

“Why do you say men?” Kristin recalled Marilyn had a penchant for sitting in front of her window, watching. “Did you see something?”

Marilyn’s face reddened.

“No . . . I just thought . . .”

Kristin studied her for a moment.

“You did see something, didn’t you, Marilyn?”

“Oh, no. And don’t tell anyone I did. Philip would . . .”

“Philip would what?”

“He’d be angry if such rumors were spread. Please,” she cajoled.

Kristin shook her head.

“Marilyn, it’s up to you to come forward if you saw something, not for me to force you.

Thanks again for the doll.” She turned and walked out quickly, pausing in the living room to gaze at the rocking chair that was turned so the person sitting in it could gaze out the window. From her previous visit Kristin knew the view Marilyn would have of the street, her home, and Angela’s. She turned as Marilyn followed. Their eyes met and Marilyn

Slater bit softly on her lower lip. Then Kristin hurried to join Teddy at the door.

She didn’t say anything until they were down the street, away from the Slaters’

residence.

“She saw something last night, but she’s too frightened to tell.”

“Who did?”

“Marilyn Slater.”

“What are you talking about, Kristin?”

“She said something to me that suggested two men attacked Angela, but when I followed up, she said she saw nothing and then she asked, no, practically begged that I say nothing about it for fear Philip would find out.”

“You’re kidding. She said that?”

“Yes. She acts like she’s living in abject terror. Well?” Kristin demanded. Teddy shook his head.

“From what I’ve been told, she hasn’t been right since she lost her child. That’s why she’s such an introvert and dwells on her dolls, even though she gets up and dresses like she’s going places every day. The Slaters don’t socialize, are rarely seen in restaurants, shows, or movies. You can’t give credence to anything she tells you, honey.”

“How do you know all this?”

“I was the first to arrive tonight. Phil opened up about her while we waited for the others to arrive.”

“I still think she saw something, Teddy. She has a good view from that bay window.”

“If she had, why wouldn’t Phil want her to tell the police? You see how hard he’s taking this breach of security. It’s like a personal affront. You saw how proud he was of his security system here.”

“Which reminds me. Arlene Hoffman told me she and Doctor Hoffman returned to the

development about eight-thirty last night and the gate was wide open and no guard was there.”

“Really?” Teddy paused. “I wonder why.”

“She said the doctor thought the guard went off to take a leak and left the gate open in case someone arrived while he was watering the flowers,” Kristin offered.

“Sounds logical. It’s not something these security guards would like to be caught doing.”

“I told her to tell the police anyway, but I don’t think she will.”

He nodded, but still didn’t look as concerned as she would have liked.

“They took the papers, Teddy,” she offered quickly. “Maybe they did more.”

“Huh? You mean our own security guards?”

“Exactly.”

“Why?”

“I don’t like them. I never did. They scare me more than they give me a feeling of

security,” she said.

“Kristin, the police have already concluded the intruder came over the lake. They even have an idea about the man’s height and weight.”

He thought a moment and shook his head before starting toward the house again.

“I think everyone’s seeing monsters in the shadows now. We’ve got to get hold of

ourselves and restore our sense of proportion. This Neighborhood Watch patrol is a good idea. It gets everyone involved and helps heal the psychological wounds.”

Kristin walked along quietly, pausing once to gaze back at the Slater house and the window from which Marilyn Slater could have easily witnessed the attack on Angela Del Marco. There’s something more going on here, she thought, there has to be.

12

IN THE MORNING, after Teddy and Jennifer had left the house, Kristin got into her car.

The guard at the gate started out of his booth when she approached.

“I’m just going shopping. Let me out,” she demanded sharply. He backed up

immediately and opened the gate. She drove out quickly, not so much as glancing at him.

About twenty minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot for the sheriff’s department and went in to ask for Lieutenant Kurosaka. He came out quickly to greet her.

“Mrs. Morris. How can we help you?”

“Actually, Lieutenant, I think I can help you,” she said. He nodded and led her back to his office where his partner, Detective Martin, sat reading a newspaper. He looked up with surprise and folded the paper.

“You remember my partner,” Kurosaka said.

“Of course.” She nodded at Martin who smiled and nodded back.

“Please, have a seat,” Kurosaka said indicating the free chair. Unlike detective offices and desks depicted in movies, Kurosaka’s office and desk were neat and well organized.

The papers on his desk were stacked in distinct piles, the furniture clean and polished.

After she sat, he went behind his desk.

“We’re all ears,” he said.

“We had a residents meeting last night, during which I spoke to Arlene Hoffman, Doctor Gary Hoffman’s wife. He happens to be my doctor.”

“An O.B. Yes. How many months are you?”

“Five and change,” she said quickly. She gazed at Martin who just stared with a deep look of boredom on his face. “Anyway, she told me that the night of Angela’s murder, she and the doctor returned to the development about eight-thirty and found the gate open, the guard missing.” Kurosaka nodded.

“He claims he was indisposed and left the gate open so no one would be

inconvenienced,” he said.

“Oh, you know about that?”

“Yes. Spier told me himself when we were back there yesterday,” Martin said.

Kristin thought a moment.

“He probably thought you would find out anyway,” she said. Kurosaka was silent, but he did shift his gaze toward Martin who sat back and folded his arms across his chest as he shook his head.

“Look, I know these guys,” Martin muttered, “from other jobs. I started as a security guard myself. You’re way off suspecting them of anything. They’ve got impeccable