Page 43 of Summer at Harbour View House
‘I’ll knock,’ Hannah said. ‘If he sees you first, he might think we’re going to mug him.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I’m not saying you’re scary or anything, but you could have dressed a little more … friendly.’
‘I don’t want him getting too excited.’
‘We can’t play Monopoly without him,’ Hannah said.
‘Well, we could, it just wouldn’t be much fun.’
‘Let’s just see what happens.’
‘Frying pan at the ready.’
‘Oh, did you bring it? He definitely won’t open the door.’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Here goes then.’
Hannah pressed the doorbell. A faint buzzing sound came from inside, barely audible over the pattering of the rain and the howling of the wind.
‘I don’t think he’s home,’ Hannah said.
‘He must be. He never goes out.’
‘Perhaps he’s sleeping.’
‘Yeah, maybe. Let’s just go down the pub instead, since we’re already out here.’
‘I think you drink too much.’
‘No, I don’t.’
‘You do. I think you’re having a midlife crisis.’
‘I am not! Life expectancy is eighty, right? I’m not even halfway yet.’
‘Early midlife then—’
A light came on, illuminating a shape behind the frosted window in the front door.
‘Whatever you’re selling at this time of night, I don’t want it,’ came an angry voice from inside. ‘So sling your hook.’
‘Excuse me, Mr. Williard? It’s Hannah and Natasha from next door. We’re looking for a third person for a game of Monopoly.’
‘Or Cluedo,’ Natasha added. ‘In case you struggled with your finances back in the Eighties and don’t want to be triggered.’
‘Nat, hush!’
The door swung open. Eddie John Willard stood there in a dressing gown, balding, overweight, mid-fifties at best, the complete opposite of a former rockstar.
He looked them up and down. ‘Is this some kind of a joke?’
‘Sadly not.’
‘Nope. We’re extending an olive branch.’ As though to emphasise her point, Hannah made a little tweeting sound which left both Natasha and Eddie frowning.
