The Neighbor: A BRAND NEW unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by N.L. Hinkens

Author:N.L. Hinkens [Hinkens, N.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books psychological thrillers, suspense and crime
Published: 2025-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

It takes about an hour of arguing back and forth with Warren before I break him down and get him to agree to my “utterly reckless” plan, as he calls it. He only relented in the end because I told him I would take the door off its hinges myself if he refused to help me. He doesn’t want me trashing his tools or damaging the door, which would be a dead giveaway that we’d been trespassing. Thankfully, Warren is highly skilled when it comes to handyman tasks. Gary won’t even know we’ve been in there, unless of course, we find something nefarious behind the door and blow his dirty little secret wide open.

I toss and turn that night enduring some of the worst nightmares I’ve experienced to date. Warren doesn’t sleep much either, but I don’t know if that’s because he’s nervous about breaking the law, or because I’m flailing around and keeping him awake. When dawn finally breaks, I stumble wearily downstairs and make myself a mug of extra strong coffee. Warren has finally dozed off, so I let him sleep for another hour before waking him. He yawns and stretches, then sits up and fumbles around for his phone. “I need to call the office and let them know I’ll be coming in late.”

“I’m relieved to hear you’re not going to back out on me,” I say. “I was afraid you might have changed your mind this morning.”

He tightens his lips. “You can’t breathe a word about this to anyone — not even to Amber. If it gets out that we were in the house, Gary could sue us for violation of privacy.”

I arch a contemptuous brow at him. “And if we find Beth or Luna, or both of them, locked up in that room, you’d better believe the whole world’s going to hear about it.”

Warren pointedly ignores me and turns his attention to his phone.

I leave him to shower, and head back downstairs to scramble some eggs. We need to discuss the details of our plan over breakfast. I desperately want to be there when Warren removes the bedroom door, but it would be safer for both of us if I remain outside as the lookout in case Gary, or someone else, unexpectedly shows up at the house. As frustrating as it is, the only way to manage the situation safely is to divide and conquer.

I’m watching the butter sizzle in the pan when I hear Gary’s car starting up next door. I throw down the spatula, dash to the family room, and watch until he turns the corner and disappears from sight. I check my watch and confirm that it’s 7.15 a.m. — roughly the same time he takes off for work every morning. So far so good.

Twenty minutes later, Warren trudges into the kitchen looking as though he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Maybe we shouldn’t—”

“Don’t start!” I cut him off. “We’re not backing out now.” I plop a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of him.

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