The woman answers on the fourth ring – a bright, cheerful Hello.

‘Oh, hello. Sylvia Mann, is it?’ I ask. My voice has a tremble to it; I cough to clear my throat and restore some strength to my tone.

‘Yes, speaking.’

‘You don’t know me, but I’m aware you’re looking at property in the area,’ I say more confidently now. I allow a pause before I continue. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m interfering, but I wasn’t sure you’d been given the full facts.’

‘Oh? And what might they be?’ Sylvia Mann is unsure now, her tone inquisitorial.

‘For example, were you aware that property developers are trying to buy up the houses in Apple Grove, which I believe is the estate you were specifically interested in?’

‘Sorry, what did you say your name was again?’

I ignore this and rush on. ‘I suspect you’ve been told it’s not going ahead, however, that’s not entirely true. It was only the first phase of the planning that was turned down and they have already put in a counterclaim and will go through any “back doors” to get what they want in the longer term. They’re intending to take a great deal of the gardens that back onto the fields they want to build on and eventually will force you to sell the whole property to them and demolish the lot for their huge development. That’s what these big companies do, you see – they bully you into selling. And one of the houses, the one next to the property you wanted to view, has already been snapped up by them …’

‘Right, well … er …’ Sylvia sighs. ‘Thank you for your call, I guess.’

The line goes dead.

I hadn’t finished, really – I’d more to say. But that’ll give her something to think about for now. It might even be enough. This knowledge would certainly make me think twice about wanting to buy the house.

I return the diary to the utility room. I’ll make a note of the other numbers later, then sneak it back – hopefully as easily as when I slid it from the desk into my tote bag when their backs were turned. Carl will assume he just misplaced it due to the stress he’s under. Being a familiar face at Move Horizon has offered me some unexpected opportunities. Suzanne is happy to oblige even when I ask for updates on the sale of a house that no longer belongs to me and often lets little snippets of info slip when I’m there, hovering. My near-invisibility proves quite useful.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Amber

I must’ve been so visibly distracted when I returned to work after being at the estate agent’s that Olive told me to go home early. The last appointment had cancelled, so she said she’d finish up. I didn’t hesitate to take her up on the offer.