With Neighbors Like These by Linda Lovely

Author:Linda Lovely [Linda Lovely]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Level Best Books
Published: 2021-05-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Nine

It’s three p.m. I drop by the office, call the security firm that services Tenyke Townhomes and ask them for a proposal to add video surveillance of the units’ rear entrances.

I’m disappointed Lyn isn’t in. I’d hoped she could tell me if Brent owns a townhome. I ask Robin when Lyn will be back. She shrugs. “Lyn keeps her own appointments. Just calls in periodically to check for messages and see if an emergency’s popped up. She’s attending a board meeting at Marshview now. You’ve got her number, right? Call her.”

I don’t want to give Lyn or Robin the impression Brent is an urgent concern. I smile. “Not a big deal. Will catch her next time we’re both in the office.”

Since it’s earlier than I told Abby Cole to expect me, I give Jim Monroe a call. Golden Treasure’s affable board president answers on the first ring. He invites me to drop by his house and gives my kind of directions. “Turn left at the white stucco with the red tile roof. We’re the second house after the turn.”

Jim is pulling weeds beside his driveway when I pull in. He stands and brushes the sandy soil off his pants. “Glad to see you. Gives me an excuse to call it a day. My knees and back aren’t as young as they used to be.”

I follow him to his backyard where branches from a huge live oak overhang a cozy brick-paved patio, and nicely shade an eclectic collection of lounge chairs and rockers.

“Wow, what an incredibly gorgeous tree.”

Jim’s smile grows wider. “Yep, that beauty’s why we bought this lot. Took extra care to make sure construction crews didn’t drive over its roots or compact the soil while we were building. That tree is at least two hundred years old. Irreplaceable.”

He motions me to an Adirondack chair, softened with plump flower-print cushions, and offers refreshments. I decline, explaining Abby Cole is expecting me in twenty minutes.

Jim frowns. “She’s had a rough time. Glad all her children could come so quickly. While Chevy’s behavior peeved neighbors, Abby wasn’t tarred with her husband’s brush. She’s soft-spoken, polite. Frankly, people felt sorry for her, having Chevy as a husband. If he lost his temper over some little thing, you could hear him berating Abby half a block away.”

“How’s the neighborhood coping?” I ask. “Are people frightened? Do they believe a psycho killer might be living next door?”

Jim shakes his head. “Frightened? No, we’re in the denial and disbelief stage. Can’t accept that anybody who lives here could get worked up enough about those damn dogs to kill Chevy.”

“I understand a woman took photos of Chevy’s dogs running amuck and posted them on social media to shame him. Did she also complain to the board? Did the directors attempt to get Chevy to cease and desist?”

Jim sighs. “Yes, Claire asked the board to act. In hindsight, we should have tried to do more. But what? There’s nothing in our covenants or bylaws about keeping dogs on leashes.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.