Abigail scrolled down the screen impatiently, then she spotted it, her dream flat. She wrote down the details in her notebook in case it vanished off the screen, she had heard how properties could be snapped up quickly, on sale one moment, gone the next. But she had no idea how to book a viewing if the estate agent was on line with no office to visit or human to phone. Luckily Phillip would be round soon.

‘Character ground floor apartment in lively area, would suit first time buyer. Hardly the sort of thing you want Mother, I’ve booked viewings for several ideal places, but … there we are booked, viewing tomorrow afternoon after the others. We can always cancel if you find one more suitable.’

‘Certainly not, I have a good feeling about this place.’

‘Okay, but you need to be sure, we don’t want to go through all this again.’

‘You mean this is to be my final home?’

‘No, I mean…’

‘I hope it will be, the alternatives would be far worse.’

Soon after lunch the next day Phillip pulled up outside huge gates.

‘Is this a prison?’

‘No of course not, it’s an up market gated community for the eld… people who want to enjoy their retirement.’

‘Not my idea of enjoyment.’

‘It’s got nice gardens and a fountain…’

‘Drive on.’

He handed her a leaflet about the next destination. A smug, sun tanned, fit, mature couple beamed out at her. Oak Dene, luxury apartments for the young at heart and Acorn Grove for those who need that little bit of extra support.  On the estate we have a sports hall and community complex.

‘Hmp, bet that couple wouldn’t dream of setting foot in there and nor would I.’

‘Don’t dismiss it out of hand, lots of company and there’s a bus stop outside to get to our place.’

Abigail looked at her watch. ‘We need to get to my place next, I don’t want another buyer turning up before me.’

Phillip’s frown grew deeper as the Satnav led him down a rundown shopping street then through a maze of small roads.

‘Nearly there… a primary school round the corner, you won’t want to be living in this area.’

‘I love the sound of children in the playground.’

‘But not all the time.’

‘Same town as you and Sandra, isn’t that the plan?’

‘But this is the wrong side of town.’

‘Looks fine to me and lots of interesting little shops.’

‘What on earth would you want with a tattoo parlour and a vape shop?’

When they reached their destination they were both confused.

‘Busy road, can’t see 32B, unless it’s that weird construction that looks like it’s been squeezed in as an afterthought.’

‘Yes, it is, come on, squeeze into that parking space, is that the agent, didn’t look like that when your father and I were house hunting.’

‘Good afternoon, um who is the property for?’

‘Me of course, I hope it’s as good inside as the pictures on your flashy website.’

‘Even better’ the young man flashed a set of white teeth.

‘We have lots of other places to look at’ said Phillip.

The agent ushered them into the tiny hall with a flourish.

‘Kitchen at the front, kitchen sink under the window, you won’t want that Mother.’

‘It’s perfect.’

‘But it’s too small, not even room for a dishwasher.’

‘I won’t need one, I’m not planning on having visitors for dinner.’

The agent smiled. ‘And the guest bedroom is also at the front.’

‘You could not fit a bed in here.’

‘I don’t need to, this is my office, or will be hopefully, how many other buyers have looked?’

‘A lot.’

‘Oh dear, how many offers?’

‘None.’

‘Not surprised’ sniffed Phillip.

‘Now to the main bedroom and lounge which both have French doors out onto the bijou garden.’

‘Oh it’s perfect, south facing as well.’

‘Facing a school by the look and sound of it.’

‘Yes, just a little primary school, but there is a good fence and when that tree is in leaf it will muffle the sound.’

‘Sorry, we won’t waste your time any more, this is totally un..’

‘Perfectly suitable, I’ll be in touch very soon with my offer.’

‘We’ll discuss it and get back to you, come on Mother.’

Back in the car Phillip said ‘Don’t be disappointed, we have plenty more we can look at.’

‘I don’t need to, this is the one.’

‘But that school, balls coming over the fence.’

‘I’ll throw them back again.’

Abigail stood at her kitchen sink looking out at all the toing and froing. Next door was herding her children out the front door, late for school as usual. She had confided to Abigail that the nearer they lived to a school the harder it was to get there on time.

That white car was there again, number 32 told her it was always there when the husband was away. The chap from round the corner waved as he walked by with his dog. She would have quite liked another dog, but not enough room in this little dolls’ house and there was enough entertainment from all the local dogs. Mike across the road was rushing out to recapture his springer spaniel. Perhaps he would have called him something else if he had known how often he would be yelling Bubbles. Whoops, near miss for Bubbles with that teenager on one of those E-scooter things.

Time to get ready for the library coffee morning. Abigail wondered what fascinating characters would turn up today, it was the antidote to that dreary ladies’ club she had belonged to for so long, she had only gone to have a break from Charles after he retired.

That evening Phillip and Sandra popped round for an inspection under the guise of taking her out for dinner. They came bearing plastic boxes of leftovers, or home made ready meals as they preferred to call then, with the excuse they weren’t yet used to cooking smaller amounts since the twins went off to university.

Sandra was peering over the kitchen sink,

‘Oh, there’s a strange man staring in.’

‘That’s Josh, not long out of prison, staying in the halfway house round the corner, nice chap.’

Later that evening Abigail waved goodbye to her son and daughter-in-law with relief. She had enjoyed the meal and people watching, though of course the local Wetherspoon was hardly Phillip and Sandra’s sort of place. No dishes to wash, but she enjoyed looking out of the window before it was time to settle down to watch the news.

Strange, that white car was drawing up and the husband’s car was at home. Now the wife was emerging, carefully closing the front door behind her. Abiail opened the window a little, for fresh air, not to hear what the wife was saying, shouting almost.

‘I told you to stay away, tonight of all nights, just go.’

Oh dear, it looked like he had no intention of going.

The front door flew open and the husband sprang out. He was shouting, but she couldn’t grasp the words. Now the other man was getting something out of the boot of the white car. It looked like, surely not…

Abigail wished she was shut safely in her lounge with the television turned up, oblivious to what was going on. But she wasn’t and there did not seem to be anybody else around. Nobody in the road, no house lights switching on. For the first time in her life Abigail pressed 999 on her phone.