The Prowler

Moira looked out through the bedroom window. The deep golden rays of evening sunlight seemed to transform the garden, giving it a magical atmosphere. Everything looked fresh. She smiled contentedly as her eyes fastened on the pink hydrangea bush by the gate. Never in her life had she seen one in such beautiful condition with its even distribution of flower heads. It had grabbed her attention when they first came to view the house; that one shrub had stood out against the rest of the drab foliage."Must be a bit of good ground there," her husband Ken had said in a tone that had made him sound knowledgeable. "They probably had their compost heap there at some time."Moira had nodded. Neither of them knew much about gardening but Ken had made a real effort to learn and it showed in the job he had done with the rest of the garden. He had wanted to move the hydrangea to a more prominent position but she had made her protest and won. The ground where it was obviously suited it.As she watched, the sun continued to slip behind the houses opposite throwing them into stark silhouette. She drew the curtains only when the last of the sunlight had gone. Though she loved to look out over the garden she feared that the man might return. Though he never did anything, merely stood there, she was still afraid; and he always seemed to turn up when Ken was working the night shift. How he got into the garden she couldn’t imagine; a six foot fence went all the way round the garden with a gate of equal proportions which was kept bolted at top and bottom. And Ken had just left for work.She made her way down the stairs into the kitchen where she began to make some supper, intending to have an early night. Major, their Alsation, lay sprawled on the mat near the door leading to the garden. He opened one inquisitive eye, sighed, then returned to that shallow sleep that is peculiar to dogs. He had already been fed so had little interest in the food she was preparing.Suddenly he shot to his feet and let out a low menacing growl. Moira jumped and then trembled when she took in the dog's appearance. He was standing facing the door with the hair between his shoulders bristling, his teeth bared. Closing the curtains she then checked that the bolts on the door were slid home. Major continued to growl, ignoring Moira when she spoke to him."I ought to let you at him, Major. You'd soon see him off wouldn't you? And why not? He has no right to be there frightening folk. If he got hurt it would be his own fault."Reaching up she slid back the bolt at the top of the door. Major sensed her intention and stepped back excitedly, making just enough room for her to open the door. No sooner had she started to open the door than he was through the gap and bounding up the garden, his loud bark echoing through the night air.She watched as he sped towards the man then stop, cower and turn with his tail between his legs. When he reached her he was whimpering like a puppy. The man remained motionless, his hands clasped together over his ample stomach, his face calm. The dog was hardly through the door when Moira slammed it shut, shooting the bolts home and turning the key in its lock. She turned on the dog."A lot of good you are." Something inside her snapped; she’d had enough of it.The police seemed to take their time answering the phone but their action was actually swift. Her description of the man was radioed to various mobile patrols who closed in to seal off the area. The loud knock on the front door startled her. She led the two officers into the kitchen after the male detective issued orders through his radio to seal the adjacent gardens."This description you gave us tallies with that of the man who previously occupied this house. His wife reported him missing about fourteen months ago. It could be him." The policewoman handed her a photograph."Yes! That's him!" Moira was certain. "But why would he come back here?""Who knows? Perhaps he lost his memory but has recognised the house."Moira stood up, crossed to the window and drew the curtains aside. "But why doesn't he... There he is now. Quick you can get him."The detective charged through the door while the policewoman gave clear instructions into her radio. Moira stood framed in the doorway.The detective had reached the prowler. Moira felt her legs buckle beneath her as the prowler appeared to sink slowly into the ground. Then the detective returned to the house his face ashen."Get a squad down here with spades. Then let's have his wife brought in." He flopped into the offered chair."Christ! Now I've seen everything on this job."