"Yes, yes. And how do you like your new job?"
"Oh, it's great. Good kids. But, like I said, there's a problem. There's a nasty guy cruising around this neighborhood. He's a pedophile. Preys on kids."
"Oh, my!" she said, shocked. "How awful!"
"Yes. I obviously want to keep him away from my school, but I also don't want him in our neighborhood either. The cops are looking for him, too. But I'm just being extra cautious here and asking everyone in the neighborhood if they've seen this guy around."
Alright, so I was telling a bit of a white lie. Okay, well, two white lies. Simon wasn't a pedophile (as far as I knew, anyway), and I was only actually asking Mrs. Dobbins, not anyone else who lived on this street. However, I don't think it would have turned out too well if I'd said that I was asking her because she had a reputation of being the nosiest person in the neighborhood.
"Do you have a picture of him I could look at?"
"Actually, I do."
I pulled out my phone and opened the picture of Simon that Vivienne had forwarded to me.
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
"You recognize this guy?"
"I do, I do!" she said excitedly. "This guy, he was, strangely enough, he was hanging around Vivienne's house! I thought he was a friend of hers, perhaps. Do you... you don't think that she's mixed up in that disgusting... sex pest business, do you?!"
"Oh no, no, she is definitely not mixed up in anything of the sort. I already asked her about him."
"Ah yes, well I didn't think she would be. She's such a nice girl. You should really try to get to know her a little better," she said with a suggestive smile and a twinkle in her eye.
I had to try to keep a straight face. "Oh uh, I couldn't agree with you more, Mrs. Dobbins."
"You really should. You never know – good things might happen!"
I chuckled. "Oh they might, they sure might. Look, sorry, I just need to ask when exactly it was that you saw this guy hanging around."
"Oh yes, well, he's been around here three times actually. Twice on Friday, and once yesterday."
"And what was he doing?"
"First he drove up and down the street a few times in his car. Real nice car – black, Mercedes, I think. On two occasions he simply parked the car a little up the street and sat watching Vivienne's house, he was there for at least two hours one time, and an hour and a half the other time. The other time he was actually out of the car, and he walked all around her house, having a very good look at it. I called the police department, but they told me if he didn't do anything, he was probably just a friend. What do you think he wants with her? Oh my, do you think that disgusting pervert wants to prey on the poor little children in her daycare?"
"Hopefully he's not thinking of anything that depraved. I don't know what he wants with Vivienne, but I intend to find out. I'll let her know that he's been looking at her place."
"You'd better. I do hope she's safe. I worry about her, you know, a single woman in that house all by herself without a good man to take care of her. You really should go and spend some time with her, I think..."
"I, uh, I'll make an effort to do that. Well, listen, Mrs. Dobbins, it's been great talking with you. I'll chat with you again soon. Enjoy the rest of your Su
nday."
"Oh, I will, Mr. James. It was very nice chatting with you. I do hope that we can visit longer next time. Perhaps you'd like to come over for some tea and cake? And bring your lovely little girl; I do enjoy having children around the house every now and then. Reminds me of my own grandchildren, who unfortunately live out east."
"I'll bring her around sometime. Have a good day, Mrs. Dobbins."
"You too, Mr. James."
She closed her door, and I hurried back across the street to my place. I was greeted by the enticing aroma of freshly cooked omelets, but as hungry as I was, I needed to tell Vivienne the news first.
"Omelets are ready, and I hope you're hungry," she said, flashing me one of her gorgeous smiles as I walked in. It was a sight a guy could get used to.
"Great. But before we eat, I have to tell you what happened with Mrs. Dobbins."
"Go ahead then. What did she end up telling you?"