Neighborhood Watch by Andrew Neiderman Page A

will.”
    Philip felt his anger recede, and as always when he had a compliant resident who offered no resistance, no arguments after a dressing down, he began to feel a bit generous, as generous as a father who had driven his lesson home and now wanted his child to love him again.
    “I’m sending someone over to see you later today,” he said. “Bob Morrison. He’s
    managing a small printing company in Wurtsboro and I think he’s paying too much for employee health insurance. I told him you were the man to see.”
    “Thank you, Philip. I appreciate the referral. I’ll be happy to help him. I’m really sorry about Angela. It won’t happen again.”
    “Good. I like Angela, and Marilyn always says nice things about her, too. It bothers me whenever we have any dissension at Emerald Lakes, especially since the ugly business with Sol Feinberg,” Philip said. Steve was silent. “Well, I don’t want to take up any more of your time or any more of my own with this.”
    “I understand,” Steve said. “Thanks again.”
    Philip cradled the phone and clasped his hands as he put his elbows on the desk. He lowered his chin to his knuckles and stared at the aerial photograph. Viewing it from the air, the way the property was delineated, it took on the shape of a head, a shape similar to his own, he thought. Was that just accidental or was it some divine sign?
    He shifted his eyes slowly to the space on the wall where his little boy’s picture had once hung. He stared at it, blinking rapidly. Marilyn didn’t want to try to have another child.
    She harbored a fear that he or she would be taken, too. Or was that his fear?
    If there was only a way to build a wall so high nothing evil could enter Emerald Lakes, no disease as well as no criminal element.
    Damn that Angela Del Marco. Why couldn’t she see what he wanted for all of them: a
    wall, protection, a sense of security which meant that they could harvest happiness in their homes? Philip wasn’t confident about her husband bringing the message home and getting her with the program. He would need help. But that was all right. Help was at hand.
    He lifted the receiver and tapped out a number.
    “Hello, Philip,” Nikki said. He smiled, knowing she had one of those identification devices so she could see who was calling before she picked up the receiver. She didn’t let the phone ring twice when she realized it was him.
    “Nikki, Angela Del Marco just left my office, upset with the citation.”
    “That doesn’t surprise me,” Nikki said.
    “Well, it does me,” he said sharply. “It always surprises and disappoints me when one of our own residents is uncooperative.”
    “I understand, Philip. It upsets me, too,” she admitted once she saw his gist.
    “I want the Del Marcos to know how lucky they are to have a Neighborhood Watch
    committee looking after their interests as well as everyone else’s.”
    “Of course, Philip.”
    “And the best way to drive that home is to scrutinize them even more closely for a while so they understand completely where they are.”
    “All right. I’ll speak with the others and have everyone give them a second and third look from time to time. I know their backyard fence is overdue for a whitewash.”
    “See that they know that and give them a deadline. We can be lenient only with those who appreciate leniency and respect our codes and property values.”
    “I will, Philip.”
    “Thank you, Nikki. Thank you for your time and effort. I do appreciate it, even though some might not.”
    He could almost hear her beaming with pride.
    “Thank you,” she said.
    “I’ll speak to you later about this matter and a few others.”
    “Fine,” she said and hung up.
    Philip cradled the receiver. He felt no guilt, no remorse. He had to do what he had to do for the good of the development. It came with the responsibility, the burden of leadership.
    They should be grateful they had a man like him. Most of them were. He took a deep
    breath,