Behind a Closed Door (The Estate, Book 2) by Mel Sherratt Read Free Book Online

here,’ she said, trying not to think that, as she walked down the path, it was for the very last time.
     
    The following week, Josie was in the office, about to start on the massive task of clearing some of her paperwork. There were six people in that morning as she pulled out a bundle of files from her in-tray. Moments earlier, Debbie had finished her stint on the reception counter and was eating an apple while flicking through a pile of messages. A telephone went unanswered as Irene and Sonia argued over who was going to take over from her.
    Where was the office manager when they needed her, Josie thought? Kay Whitehead had been their manager for the last seven years but most of that time had been spent working at their head office in Warbury on special projects – so special that none of her staff ever knew what she was doing. Sometimes the office ran okay without her being there: she was, she insisted, only a phone call away. Sometimes, however, things became a little lax and the staff started to rule the roost.
    ‘Reception okay this morning?’ Josie asked Debbie as she searched out a tenant’s file from the large cabinet by her side.
    Debbie nodded. ‘Gets a bit boring, though, listening to everyone moaning.’
    ‘Do you fancy coming out on the patch with me for a few visits? People will still moan but it’s better than being inside – well, most of the time.’
    Debbie nodded a little more eagerly this time. ‘I’d love to.’
    ‘Great. I’ll sort it out. All you need to wear is trousers and flat boots or shoes. I’ll find you some armour to change…’ Josie grinned at the in-joke regarding their work wear. ‘I’ll find you a coat to wear.’
    ‘Cluck, cluck, cluck, you’re doing it again,’ Ray teased, smirking at Josie as he sat down at his desk.
    Josie stuck out her tongue.
    ‘Whatever you do,’ he shouted down the office to their new recruit, ‘don’t let her tell you the rules of a housing officer. They’ll put you off our job for life.’
    ‘Rules?’ queried Debbie.
    ‘Ignore him,’ Josie soothed her as she frowned at a grinning Ray. ‘I’ll introduce you to them one at a time.’
     
    When Josie next went out on her own, she spent a pleasant half an hour with Amy and Reece Cartwright. As she left the property she looked up the road. As she’d expected, Kelly Winterton had been hard at work. There was a pile of empty boxes crunched up neatly by the side of the wheelie bin and curtains were hanging in arcs at each of the windows.
    As she drove past, Josie spotted Kelly on the pathway. She was quite a way through cutting back the hedge that separated the path from the small garden. Pleased to see her making an effort already, Josie decided to stop.
    ‘Now that’s what I like to see,’ she said as she walked down the steps towards Kelly.
    Kelly stood up straight and put a hand on the small of her back. ‘It’s bloody killed me to get this far, but I was sick of getting soaked when we moved in.’
    ‘It looks great. And it’s nice to see someone doing something rather than me having to enforce it with a dozen warning letters.’ She was about to ask where Emily was when she appeared behind her mum.
    ‘Hiya, lady,’ Emily smiled a row of milky-white teeth. ‘I’m helping Mummy clear the garden. I’m on litter duty.’
    Kelly and Josie shared a smirk. Emily had numerous cuttings stuck to her red pom-pom hat, and a child’s pink rucksack stuffed with crisp packets, toffee wrappers and the odd shrivelled leaf.
    ‘What a good girl.’ Josie bent down to her level. ‘I think you can come and do my garden when you’ve finished here. You’re doing a wonderful job.’
    ‘Mummy says I have to leave the grown up stuff for her to tidy up,’ Emily pronounced, picking up the rucksack ready to return to her duties.
    ‘Is she always that sweet?’ Josie spoke to Kelly.
    Kelly stopped mid-shear. ‘You should’ve been here last night when she was crying for most of