The Good Neighbour

Elliot’s phone went to his answering service. She waited for the robotic voice to finish telling her that the person she was calling was unavailable and waited for the beep. ‘Elliot. It’s just me.’ Her tone was neutral. She smiled at her host who remained in the hallway. Behind him was a staircase carpeted in sage green. ‘I’ve had a little accident in the car. Nothing serious but I might be home later. I’ll explain everything to you then.’ She hung up. ‘Thank you.’ She handed the phone to him. ‘Sorry, I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Leah Talbot.’

‘Martin Tate.’

There was an awkward moment as they both considered if they should make the introduction official.

‘I understand if you don’t want to shake hands. I live just up the road, in Forley. Have been for the past seven years. In Minster Street. Near the railway bridge.’ Too much information again, Leah.

He regarded her blankly.

‘By the Black Horse Inn.’

Recognition flickered in his eyes. ‘Yes. I do know it.’

‘I sometimes drive past here on my way to the station and I’ve always wondered what’s behind these gates.’ Oh God, that sounded stalky.

He smiled kindly. ‘So, we’re virtually neighbours.’

‘Yes. Pretty close neighbours.’ Leah told herself to dial it back. She’d be producing her passport in a moment.

‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ He squinted at her suspiciously.

‘Fine.’ She took a breath. ‘Just … shaken, I think.’

‘Can I at least help you get your car back on the road?’

She took in his groomed appearance. ‘No. I wouldn’t want to drag you out into the rain. Besides, I don’t think it’ll move very far.’

‘By calling roadside repair, I meant.’ A smile briefly registered as he brandished the phone. ‘I don’t have a lot of experience in car mechanics.’

‘Of course. I’m with the AA but I think I left my card in the car.’ She rummaged through her handbag but knew it wouldn’t be there. Now her legs felt wobbly.

‘No problem. I could use mine and they can sort you out when they arrive. I don’t think you should be going back out there. This road’s treacherous enough in the daytime.’

‘That would be very kind.’

‘So your husband, he’s not at home?’

‘No, he’s out tonight.’

‘On Valentine’s night?’ Martin Tate seemed surprised.

Valentine’s Day. She’d forgotten about that. It hadn’t had any significance for the past couple of years. She was about to make a scoffing comment but stopped herself. ‘Yes,’ she answered simply. He didn’t need any hints about her home life.

‘Come and have a seat. I hope you don’t mind me saying but you’re looking a bit pale.’

‘That’s OK.’ She held up a hand. ‘I’ve disturbed your evening enough.’ Her gaze went to the lit kitchen beyond.

‘It’s no problem. Just me here.’ He’d read her mind.

‘You live here alone?’

‘Put it this way, you’re not disturbing a romantic dinner.’

That wasn’t an answer. Leah heard a small internal alarm bell. Her car was down the road and she hadn’t told Elliot in her message that she was inside a stranger’s house on Plough Lane.

‘Come and sit down while I call the AA.’

Despite feeling light-headed, Leah nodded but didn’t move.

He obviously sensed her unease. ‘Does my cooking smell that bad?’

Leah was about to smile but at that moment a dog came down the stairs. It was a white and brown basset hound and its ears flapped about its head as it descended awkwardly.

‘He doesn’t bite either.’

The animal slid down the last few green stairs on its stomach and made a beeline for Leah.

She bent to pet the dog. ‘What’s his name?’

‘Her. It’s Sheila.’

She tried to pat its head while it snuffled at her jeans. ‘Hi, Sheila.’ Leah held out her hand so Sheila could sniff it, but the dog ignored her. She stood up but felt giddy and staggered back.

‘Whoa.’ Tate caught her firmly by the arm.

He had a very tight grip but as soon as she’d regained her balance, he released her.

‘Sorry.’ He pulled both his arms in as if he shouldn’t have touched her.

‘That’s OK. I think I do need to sit down though, if you wouldn’t mind.’

‘Just in here.’ He immediately turned and led her towards the doorway of the kitchen.

Leah followed and found herself in a very impressive and modern space. More dark slate walls were broken up by bright white splash tiles behind the huge sink and cooking range. In the middle was a long breakfast bar and several stools. A half-eaten meal lay on it with a full bowl-glass of red wine beside it.

Leah’s scalp prickled cold. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve interrupted your dinner.’ Her mouth felt dry.

‘Not at all.’ He pulled out a stool. ‘Sit yourself down.’

But Leah stumbled, fell and blacked out before she reached it.

Chapter Five

Leah drew breath in anticipation of the fall and then realised she was sitting on an armchair in a completely different room. She sat bolt upright and grunted as her neck and stomach reminded her of the crash. Martin Tate held out a placatory palm to her. He was seated in an armchair opposite. He had the phone in his other hand.

‘Sure you wouldn’t like me to call you an ambulance?’

‘What time is it?’ Leah took in the lounge she was in. A large blank TV screen was mounted on the powder-blue wall before her and there was an ornate dresser covered with framed family photos to her left. To her right was an occasional table. Tate had placed her handbag there.

‘It’s OK. You’ve barely been out a minute.’

Leah swallowed and rubbed her face.

‘I just caught you in time. You completely folded.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t apologise. You’re obviously still in shock.’

‘I’ve taken up enough of your time.’ Leah tried to stand but immediately felt dizzy again.

‘Just stay there,’ he said firmly then smiled. ‘Take a breath. I really don’t have anything more important to do this evening. Are you sure you don’t want someone to take a look at you?’

She shook her head. ‘I’ve got low blood pressure. It happens sometimes. Especially if I get out of bed too quickly.’ But Leah suspected there had been more to her blackout than that. The trauma of another car accident was never far from her thoughts.

He nodded then rose.

Leah felt a little uncomfortable as he looked thoughtfully down at her.

‘I’ll call the breakdown people, just stay there.’ Tate walked out of the room, the phone at his ear.

Leah listened to him opening some cupboards in the kitchen while he relayed the situation to the AA and gave them his card number and address details. She felt so foolish but as she gripped the arms of the chair her vision fizzed yellow. Despite the obvious presence of an air freshener she could still smell the deer. She tipped her head forward to get some blood back into it.

‘Here.’

She looked up and found Tate standing in front of her. She hadn’t heard him re-enter the room.

‘Do you like brandy? I don’t really know if it steadies nerves but that’s the extent of my first-aid skills, I’m afraid.’ He offered a cut-glass tumbler of it to her.

‘Not really.’

‘How about a glass of red. I’ve got a bottle open.’

‘I don’t drink red wine. Too acidic for me. This’ll be fine, thanks.’ She took it from him.

‘Truck’s going to take five to ten minutes.’ He seated himself again, leaning back in the armchair and crossing his leg. ‘They’re coming here first. Or I could drop you home now if you’re not feeling up to it.’

‘I’ll be fine in a moment, really.’ She broke the silence by taking a gulp of the brandy. She swallowed too much of it and it burnt the back of her throat. Leah just managed to stifle a choke.

Amusement played about his features again. ‘Can I get you some water or a hot drink?’

‘No, this is good.’ And it actually was. Leah normally hated brown spirits, like the whisky that Elliot collected and revered, but she could feel the liquid warming her all the way down and took another careful sip.

‘Do you want to try your husband again?’

She shook her head definitively.

Tate frowned.

‘He won’t be back yet.’ She couldn’t keep the dismissive tone from her voice.

‘He will be though?’

Leah nodded.

‘I don’t like to think of you going home to an empty house after you’ve had such an ordeal.’

‘I’ll be fine. Honestly. Maybe I should go and wait outside.’

Tate gritted his teeth. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.’

‘You didn’t.’ She slid to the edge of the seat. ‘You’ve been very kind.’

‘Your choice. At least charge your phone before you go.’ He nodded to her handbag.

She was shakily standing. ‘That’s OK. Now the breakdown guy is on the way I can charge it when I get home.’

‘It’s still raining hard out there.’

It made sense to stay where she was, charge the phone and wait for the police and the breakdown truck in the house. Why was she so determined to leave? She lifted her handbag up by the strap and slung it over her shoulder. ‘Thank you for this.’ She placed the empty tumbler of brandy carefully on the glass-topped table.

Tate stood but didn’t respond.

‘I’ll be fine. I shouldn’t have knocked on your door—’ Leah felt her legs crumple the way they had in the kitchen.

He darted forward and caught her by her elbows, his grip firm as before.

Leah attempted to straighten but it was him supporting her.

‘Take a breath.’

She looked up at him, saw something beyond his concerned expression.

‘You’ll be fine.’

Her eyes were on his mouth and she felt an almost irresistible compulsion.

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