Trouble in paradise? On our way to the pool we saw four police cars and a building taped like we see on films. Where we live is the quietest place in the suburbs of Newbury Park, surrounded by palm trees, the most serious crime I can imagine in this white clean gated community is a burglary. Even so, the wardens make eye contact with everyone and would spot anyone unusual.
It is Sunday afternoon and families are in the pool, kids are shouting, the usual. It is just strange to see on the other side of the fence police officers coming and going. After my lengths I decide to go home and here is a police officer asking me to go back a different way as he is also taping my path. "What happened?" I dare ask. Well, you should have seen his face...He seemed offended that I even ask anything. He should realise that in a place so quiet, and with the box feeding us hundreds of "Law and Order" episodes we are all craving some action. "I can't tell you anything" he said with a disapproving tone.
Miffed as I was I walk home the long way around. A minute later a lady asks me what the policeman had told me. She delighted in informing me of the "rumour" that had been going around the Arroyo Villas since the morning, that the lady from the office "got killed". I thought she too must be watching "Law and Order". I didn't know how to end the conversation other than uttering some patronising sentence about "We should all be careful..."
As I was walking away I was imagining some angry resident coming back to the management office with a weapon. A bit surreal. What could it be? Issues about garages, neighbours, leaf blowers?
Stephen had reminded me that most murders are committed by someone known to the victim.
A brief week end heading South to San Diego. Beautiful boats, including the Star of India which circumnavigated the globe twenty-one times, the Gas Lamp Quarter, with gambling halls, brothels and liquor dens where sailors would come and spend their meagre earnings.
