Read Online Neighborhood Watch by Andrew Neiderman - Free Book Online Page B

application,” Kristin remarked. “Why
    would we?”
    “That’s right,” Teddy said turning to Nikki. They gazed at each other.
    “I don’t recall saying anything about it at the interview either,” Kristin added.
    “Well, we must have heard from . . . from the real estate agent. It’s standard procedure,”
    Nikki explained. “All of the residents of Emerald Lakes are required to learn as much as they can about a new resident.”
    “Required?” Kristin said.
    “Not exactly required, encouraged,” Nikki corrected.
    “Well, that puts us at a disadvantage then,” Teddy said.
    “Pardon?” Nikki’s eyes blinked rapidly. She’s not the kind who likes being confused or likes lacking understanding, Teddy thought. Very competitive.
    “We don’t know very much about you,” he said.
    “You will,” she predicted “Jean?”
    “Oh dear, I left it outside on the front stoop!” Jean Levine cried and hurried through the house and out the front door.
    “Jean can be so scatterbrained sometimes,” Nikki said.
    “What’s scatterbrained, Mommy?” Jennifer asked.
    “Not now, honey.”
    “She has little notes pasted all over her house to remind her to do the most basic things,”
    Nikki continued. “I swear, if Nature didn’t insist, she would forget to go to the
    bathroom.”
    Teddy laughed.
    “How can she forget to go to the bathroom?” Jennifer said.
    “What did she leave out there?” Kristin asked, giving her daughter a reprimanding look simultaneously.
    Instead of replying, Nikki turned to watch Jean rush back inside. She held a leather bound, thick file.
    “We’re always updating,” she said handing it to Kristin, “but this is the most recent.”
    Teddy moved alongside Kristin to look at the document. The cover simply read
    “Emerald Lakes Directory.” Kristin opened the book and they gazed at the table of
    contents. Every current resident was listed. Teddy looked up after Kristin turned to the first page, The Andersens.
    “This is a book containing personal information about each and every resident?” he
    asked.
    “Yes. As personal as we’re allowed to be, that is,” Nikki said. “I’m the editor,” she added proudly. “Jean does some of the writing. So, the purpose of part of this visit is to make an appointment with you to get pertinent information. We’d like to add you to the book as quickly as possible. Needless to say, everyone’s waiting to get to know you.”
    “It seems a rather impersonal way to do it,” Kristin said. “Couldn’t we just have a cocktail party or something?”
    “Those things never work well,” Nikki said firmly. Teddy noticed that she closed her eyes and held them closed a second whenever someone said or did something that
    annoyed or challenged her. “People misunderstand, spread misinformation, develop nasty rumors. We have been able to avoid all that with the book,” Nikki said. “How about this coming weekend, say Sunday at two?” she asked. Kristin didn’t reply. “Are you free?”
    “Can we let you know?” Teddy asked quickly.
    “Of course. Our telephone numbers are in the book, as well as the time of day we’re usually at home,” Nikki said.
    “Eileen McShane is on our welcoming committee and would have been here with us, but she’s a dental hygienist and had to work today. But she wanted me to tell you welcome,”
    Jean reported. “She works for Doctor Baxter, who happens to be an excellent dentist.”
    “We can help you with all those things,” Nikki said. “Doctors, dentists, lawyers . . .”
    “We know a great obstetrician,” Jean said. “And it couldn’t be better for you. He lives in Emerald Lakes, Doctor Hoffman.”
    “Thank you,” Kristin said, her voice drier. “We’re so overwhelmed with everything at the moment.”
    “Of course you are,” Nikki said jumping on the admission. “That’s why we’re here.
    We’ve all been through it and know what it’s like to scurry about looking for all these necessary