The Neighbor

THE NEIGHBOR LET EVERYONE GUARD AGAINST HIS NEIGHBOR… MARK DAVID ABBOTT Copyright © 2023 by Mark David Abbott All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Created with Vellum For Tiamo The best kind of neighbors CONTENTS GET A FREE NOVELLA FEATURING DETECTIVE RAJIV SAMPATH! Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Chapter 70 Chapter 71 Chapter 72 Chapter 73 Chapter 74 Chapter 75 Chapter 76 Chapter 77 Chapter 78 Chapter 79 Chapter 80 Chapter 81 Chapter 82 Chapter 83 Chapter 84 Chapter 85 Chapter 86 Chapter 87 Chapter 88 Chapter 89 Chapter 90 Chapter 91 Chapter 92 Chapter 93 Chapter 94 Chapter 95 Chapter 96 Chapter 97 Chapter 98 Chapter 99 Chapter 100 Chapter 101 Chapter 102 Chapter 103 Chapter 104 Chapter 105 Chapter 106 Chapter 107 Chapter 108 Chapter 109 Chapter 110 Chapter 111 Notes Also by Mark David Abbott GET A FREE NOVELLA FEATURING DETECTIVE RAJIV SAMPATH! Enjoyed this book? You can make a big difference. About the Author GET A FREE NOVELLA FEATURING DETECTIVE RAJIV SAMPATH! The next book is currently being written, but if you sign up for my VIP newsletter I will let you know as soon as it is released. And when you sign up for my newsletter, I’ll send you a FREE copy of IMPACT, a Detective Sampath Novella. Your email will be kept 100% private and you can unsubscribe at any time. JOIN MY NEWSLETTER (No Spam. Ever.) 1 The elderly man tucked the tail of his wife’s coat inside, then pushed the passenger door closed. He straightened up as best he could, trying to ignore the protests from his ageing body. Getting old was a pain in the… well, the whole body. David Hayes grimaced, finding no mirth in his own joke. He hobbled around the back of the car, nodding a greeting to a young mother pushing a shopping trolley laden with groceries. Her young son sat facing her in the trolley’s child seat, chewing on a carrot stick, and as they passed the rear of the car, he held out a chubby little hand, offering David a bite of the carrot. Despite his aches and pains, David smiled and shook his head. That was the best age, but sadly, it didn’t last long enough. Cute little kids became moody, cranky teenagers who then left home, only to be heard from at Christmas and on birthdays. David took a deep breath, then opened the driver’s door of the car and eased himself into the seat. “Alright, dear?” he asked, more out of habit than anything else, as he fumbled in the pocket of his tweed jacket for the car keys. “Can’t complain.” Carole never complained. She was always grateful, no matter what happened… and they had plenty to complain about. The car engine grumbled and coughed before reluctantly settling into an uneven idle. He selected reverse, then checked the mirrors and backed the car out of the parking space. There was a loud honk, and he jumped in his seat, instinctively jamming his foot on the brake pedal. With difficulty, he turned stiffly and looked over his shoulder to see a dark blue BMW flashing its lights. The driver gave him the middle finger before revving the engine and accelerating past. “Bloody impatient bugger,” he muttered, then checked his mirrors again before reversing. Why was everyone in such a hurry? Exiting the supermarket carpark, he took a left turn, taking the route that led through the outer suburbs on the northern edge of Winchester toward their home just outside the village of Stockbridge. Once out of the city, it was a pleasant drive along country lanes lined with hedgerows and stone walls. It was one of those beautiful spring days where the sun held warmth, and the clouds that punctuated the deep blue sky were for decoration rather than threatening rain. The rolling green fields of Hampshire spread out on either side and bunches of daffodils and buttercups dotted the roadside. The scenery lifted David’s mood and he and Carole settled into a comfortable silence as they drove deeper into the countryside. They loved their part of the world and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. After twenty-five minutes, David indicated left, then pulled into the narrow lane leading toward their cottage. The road surface was pitted and broken and he guided the car carefully around the worst of the potholes, as the edges of the road tapered in, and the ancient hedgerows on each side towered over the car, creating a tunnel effect. The road curved to the right as it narrowed further, and he honked a warning before continuing cautiously around the corner. As the road straightened, he saw two vehicles heading towards him at speed. He braked instinctively, but in his panic stalled, and the little hatchback jerked to a halt. The oncoming vehicles, a black SUV and a sleek black sedan, flashed their lights and honked, showing no sign of giving way. David’s heart raced and his hand trembled