Then my garden hose disappeared.
I searched everywhere.
The garage.
Behind the shed.
Around the side of the house.
For a moment, I even wondered if I had loaned it to someone and forgotten.
A week later, the hose mysteriously reappeared beside the outdoor faucet.
Cut cleanly in half.
I stood there holding both pieces and staring at Denise’s house.
Her blinds were closed.
I wanted to march over and confront her.
But I didn’t.
Because that had become the pattern.
Something happened.
I suspected Denise.
And I had absolutely no proof.
She seemed to know that.
Whenever we passed each other outside, she would smile at me.
Not a friendly smile.
It was the kind of look that made me feel as though she knew exactly what I was thinking and enjoyed the fact that I couldn’t prove any of it.
I considered installing security cameras.
But I kept putting it off.