Pearls

She stood in the street, surrounded by hushed whispers, the ringing in the ears in sync with the sounds of the sirens. Her vision blurred, her mind turned to fog, and she dropped to her knees in both shock and utter relief. Unlike the others, she had not been surprised that he had done something. Instead, she couldn't believe he had finally been caught.

Jack Roberts, and Adeline, had been her neighbors for three years. They were the paragon of a successful man and his trophy wife. They baked pies for newcomers to the neighborhood. They grew tulips and daisies in their front garden, and had the most pristine white picket fence separating the sidewalk from their home. They had been the perfect neighbors; almost too perfect.

Until they weren't.

It was October 23rd, and the leaves were changing, falling to the ground in a sea of red and orange, much like the fire that burned within her. She stood in the kitchen window, watching people roam about, children running and kicking a ball around. Jack and Adeline were in their yard, gesturing wildly as they entertained a guest. They always reacted appropriately and at the correct times, how charismatic. She washed a dish, three circles around the plate, and then four circles in the opposite direction. Seven was her lucky number. She eyed her neighbors, struggling to pull her gaze from the pearl necklace that hung loosely from Adeline's neck. It was beautiful, and was far too luxurious for a casual outfit, though the neighbor's wife could never been seen without it.

Days passed, and things had been become eerie. Jack Roberts would often stare at her, his eyes narrowed, his expression entirely too curious. She felt unsettled, as if Jack Roberts had known something that she would never be aware of. Washing his car, tending to their tulips and daisies, Jack Roberts would always stare.

In their brief interactions, Jack Roberts would fidget, his calm demeanor gone and now replaced by a bundle of nerves. Jack would rush every conversation, creating excuses to return to his home. Had she made him uncomfortable somehow?

Then, Adeline Roberts had vanished into thin air.

The neighborhood was in a frenzy, and she would watch her television as detectives discussed the sudden disappearance. She would roam the grocery store in search of her desired items, listening as residents blurted out theories of their own. It was a major event to occur in such a small town, the crime rate having been at an all time low for years. Law enforcement had already paid her a visit, asking a variety pf questions that seemed nothing more than arbitrary. Of course, they had been pleased with her responses. Why wouldn't they? Yet, Jack Roberts never ceased to sit in the back of her mind.

The odd behavior of Jack Roberts did not decrease, it had only become more enhanced. She was becoming more afraid by the minute, unable to escape the eyes of the man that had clearly known more than he was letting on. She couldn't fathom the idea of living beside a man who had made her skin crawl any longer. She knew his secret, she was onto him, and it would only be a matter of time before justice would be served.

She had been right.

Two months had passed since the absence of Adeline, two months since her neighbor's wife had been seen, or her beautiful pearls. There were noises coming from outside, and she joined the neighborhood to ease her perplexity. What could be occurring that would claim the attention of every person that lived on her street?

Then, she noticed. Jack Roberts was being pulled from his home, his hands donned in cuffs, screaming profanities and pleas that he had not committed this most heinous crime.

Though, she was only surprised because she knew Jack Roberts had been entirely innocent.

Pushing herself to her feet, she smiled. It was a bright smile, her lips painted a blood red. She turned, walking back to her front door.

As she walked, she could hear the clinking of the pearl necklace that hung around her neck.