“Nice place,” Harry said as they went inside.
“It’s plenty big enough for me,” she said. “I don’t need much space now and it’s easier to take care of.”
“Did you sell your home?” Bertie asked.
Mrs. Thorne shook her head. “My son lives there in winter while my daughter lives down south, and she lives there in the summer when he’s travelling.”
“Sounds like a partnership,” Harry said. “Does your son travel overseas?”
“Since his wife died several years ago, Jim travels – and lives – in a small travel trailer during the summer months. He takes photos and writes a weekly column for an online magazine. Shelia never married – too independent. She and Jim worked out a plan they were both happy with and I get to have them both around at Christmas.”
“That’s great,” Bertie said.
“Would that be ‘Places to See and Things to Do’?” Harry asked and Mrs. Thorne nodded. “I read that every week. He’s pretty good. Now, suppose you tell us why you think there might be a prowler around here?”
“It’s like a shadow moving around out there in the trees.” She pointed towards the living room window where large trees grew about a hundred feet from the building. “And sometimes there’s a brief glimpse of a dim light.”
“Any particular time of night?”
“Mostly between eleven and midnight, and lasts for about 20 to 30 minutes.”
“Have you ever seen anyone out there at any other time?” Harry asked. She shook her head. “How about coming or going? When you see this – shadow – have you ever seen anyone leave the area, maybe walk out into the open?”
Mrs. Thorne shook her head again. “No, Detective, and… I know it sounds impossible but… whoever is out there just seems to vanish.”
“Vanish?” Bertie repeated.
“It’s just… one second it’s there and the next it’s gone. Just like turning off a light switch.”
“Exactly where do you see it? Can you pinpoint the spot?” Harry asked.
“Close to that big old birch tree,” she said, pointing slightly towards the left.
Harry nodded and walked towards the door. “I’ll go take a look and see if there’s any sign of disturbance. I won’t be long.” He closed the door behind him.
Both women stood at the window, watching, as Harry crossed the back lawn and began poking about among the trees. A few minutes later he was back inside. “No obvious signs of anyone having been out there recently,” he said. “But the ground is dry enough that only an expert tracker would be able to tell for sure.”
“So what now?” Mrs. Thorne asked.
“Perhaps we wait for rain,” Bertie suggested. “I think there’s rain in the forecast within the next few days.”
“Keep your fingers crossed on that,” Harry said, rubbing his chin. “Mrs. Thorne, I want you to call me right away the next time you see anything at all out there.”
“That won’t be a problem, Detective. I’ve been keeping an eye on it ever since I first saw it.”
