A real mystery story unfolds on the roof of a building with four apartments. Someone is robbing their homes, and they must uncover who the thief is. Suspicions fall on the new resident, but was it really him? As tensions rise, the neighbors discover who the real culprit is and why.
Camilla sat on the roof, waiting for the rest of her neighbors. Their building had only four apartments, and everyone knew each other very well.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She looked around at the potted plants and the old chairs scattered around the roof, remembering the many times they had all gathered here for barbecues and evening chats.
The door to the roof opened, and Richard and Olivia, a married couple living below Camilla, appeared. “Hey, it looks like no one else has arrived yet?” Richard inquired, scanning the empty rooftop.
“No, I’ve been sitting here for about ten minutes,” Camilla said.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Richard and Olivia approached Camilla and settled into the chairs next to her. “I can’t believe we had to call this meeting,” Olivia remarked, shaking her head.
“I know. We can’t feel safe in our own home,” Richard added, his voice tinged with annoyance.
“My groceries disappeared from the fridge this week. I just bought them,” Camilla said.
Olivia frowned. “We had laundry detergent and bath gel stolen. I can’t believe someone would stoop so low to steal such basic things.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“It’s nonsense. Someone has been robbing our apartments for a month now,” Camilla said, her tone firm. “I waited for it to stop, but when my money started disappearing from my wallet, I decided to organize this meeting.”
“So it was your idea?” Richard inquired. Camilla nodded. “Well done. We can’t allow such disorder in our building.”
Olivia leaned towards Richard and Camilla, lowering her voice. “I think our new neighbor is behind this. What’s his name again?”
“Scott,” Camilla muttered.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Scott, right,” Olivia said, nodding. “The robberies started when he moved into our building. He lives across from you, doesn’t he? Have you noticed anything suspicious?”
“I can’t say anything specific. He’s very secretive, rarely even says hello. He leaves early and comes home late. I never hear any noise from his apartment,” Camilla observed.
“That’s because he’s robbing our apartments while we’re all at work, and no one can track him,” Richard said.
“Yeah, I think so too,” Olivia agreed. “He looks very young. Young people usually have no money or morals.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe he’s a student and can’t even afford groceries,” Camilla suggested.
“We were all students once, but none of us robbed,” Richard retorted, his tone dismissive.
Camilla thought about her own past. She was never a student and knew what it was like not to have money for groceries. But she only said, “Maybe you’re right.”
At that moment, the door to the roof opened again. Mrs. Smith, another neighbor, slowly walked out. She was an elderly lady whose eyes told a story of a long and eventful life.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Dears, sorry to keep you waiting, but at my age, climbing stairs is quite a challenge,” she admitted. Mrs. Smith lived on the first floor, across from Olivia and Richard.
“It’s okay, Scott still isn’t here,” Richard remarked irritably.
Mrs. Smith sat down next to Richard, taking a moment to catch her breath. “Oh, we’ve all been young and know what it’s like to lose track of time. Everything feels different when you’re young,” she commented.
“Or he’s just afraid we’ll uncover his secrets today,” Olivia speculated.
“Do you think he’s the one robbing us?” Mrs. Smith asked, looking between Olivia and Richard.
“It’s obvious. The robberies started when he moved in. I don’t even see the point of this meeting. We should just call the police on him,” Richard declared, crossing his arms.
“What a horror, living under the same roof with a thief,” Mrs. Smith gasped and clutched her heart.
“I think we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. The thief could be any one of us,” Camilla interjected.
“What ridiculous assumptions. We’re from a respectable family and would never do such a thing. Do you think it’s Mrs. Smith, who wouldn’t hurt a fly?” Olivia snapped.
“I don’t know who it is. That’s why we’re here,” Camilla said calmly.
“This is nonsense. We’ll leave here with the same information we came with. That it’s all Scott’s doing,” Richard said, fuming.
“If that’s the case, then you have nothing to worry about, Richard,” Camilla pointed out.
“What are you insinuating?!” he barked, raising his voice a little.
Their conversation was interrupted by Scott’s sudden appearance. He walked silently onto the roof and sat in the chair furthest from everyone else, his expression unreadable.
“Dears, I think we all need to calm down and remember why we’re here. We want to solve a problem, not create another one,” Mrs. Smith advised.
Scott glanced at his watch and stated, “I need to be free in three hours, so let’s finish this as soon as possible.”
“We’ll sit here as long as it takes to find out who’s robbing our apartments,” Richard insisted, glaring at Scott. Scott just rolled his eyes, looking bored.
The tension on the roof was escalating, and everyone suspected each other. Camilla decided to take charge. “I propose we discuss what was stolen from whom so we can move forward,” she suggested, looking around at her neighbors.
Olivia crossed her arms. “What’s the point? The thief steals only household items like food or cleaning supplies. We all know that,” she said.
“Yes, but maybe someone hasn’t had anything stolen, and that way we can identify the thief,” Camilla said.
Scott spoke coldly. “It’s naive to think the thief would admit it.”
Mrs. Smith nodded slowly. “I’m afraid the young man is right; no one would confess so easily,” she said.
Camilla always saw the best in people, so she was often naive and trusting. She wouldn’t have even called this meeting if her money hadn’t been stolen, but now she was afraid the thief would start taking more valuable items. “So what are your suggestions? How will we find out who it is?” Camilla asked.
Richard cleared his throat and leaned forward. “I suggest we let everyone say something in their defense, and then we’ll vote on who we think the thief is,” he said. “And then we’ll call the police on that person.” Everyone nodded in agreement, seeing no better option.
Olivia was the first to defend herself and Richard. “Everyone knows we’re a model family, and we have enough money. Last year, we even renovated the entrance ourselves. So it would be silly to think it’s us. Besides, we haven’t told many people, but I’m pregnant,” she said, holding Richard’s hand. Everyone congratulated them and nodded, acknowledging their claim.
Mrs. Smith spoke next, her voice quivering slightly. “I barely made it up to the roof; I definitely couldn’t go around the apartments every day and break in,” she said.
Camilla then took her turn. “It would be strange if it were me since I’m the one who organized this meeting,” she said. Everyone turned their gaze to Scott, who remained silent for a moment before speaking.
“I moved here only a month ago, and I’m almost never home,” Scott said, his voice steady.
“Isn’t it funny how the robberies started when you moved in?” Olivia said sarcastically. Scott just clicked his tongue in response, not giving any more details.
“Alright, then let’s vote. I don’t want this to drag on, so the first person we all suspect. Raise your hand if you think it’s Scott,” Richard said, raising his hand. Olivia also raised her hand. Mrs. Smith looked around at everyone and then reluctantly raised her hand. Only Scott and Camilla remained seated.
“Camilla, what’s the matter?” Olivia asked.
“I think it’s too early to draw conclusions,” Camilla replied.
“Anyway, there are three of us against two, so I’m calling the police on Scott,” Richard said, pulling out his phone.
“You and Olivia live in the same apartment, so your vote counts as one,” Camilla said firmly.
“What?! That’s not fair!” Olivia squealed indignantly.
“I think we should continue the discussion,” Camilla said. At that moment, Richard’s phone rang, and he and Olivia exchanged nervous glances.
“Excuse me for a second,” Richard said, stepping away to take the call. Everyone could hear him talking, and it seemed he had some problems at work. Richard finished the call and returned to the others, looking as if he had heard terrible news.
“What? What did they say?” Olivia asked anxiously.
“They had to lay me off, along with a few other employees,” Richard said sadly. “I hoped until the last moment they would keep me.” Olivia hugged him, trying to offer comfort.
Scott, sensing an opportunity, spoke up. “Well. Here are more suspects,” he said.
“Why is that?” Olivia snapped.
“Your husband knew he might lose his job. And you’re pregnant, and many people develop kleptomania during pregnancy,” Scott said.
“How dare you talk to my wife like that?!” Richard flared up, his fists clenching.
“I’m just pointing out the facts,” Scott replied calmly.
Camilla, trying to mediate, said, “Scott is right.”
“What?!” Olivia shouted. “Whose side are you on?!”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side. I just want to get to the bottom of this,” Camilla said.
Richard, feeling cornered, turned on Camilla. “Maybe it was you all along,” he said. “We know you grew up in foster homes, and people from such backgrounds rarely turn out normal.”
Scott interjected, “I don’t think getting personal is a good idea.”
Camilla yelled, “I never allowed myself to steal, even when I had no money to buy milk! Now I have a good job that pays well.”
Olivia said, “A hotel manager isn’t a good job.”
Camilla shot back, “Of the best hotel in our city. And I apologize, but when was the last time you worked?” Everyone knew it was a rhetorical question.
Mrs. Smith, her voice breaking the tension, said, “Please, let’s stop fighting.”
Olivia said, “I never needed to work.”
Camilla, trying to hold back her frustration, said, “Well, now it seems you’ll have to remember what that’s like since Richard got fired. Or did you decide just to steal from us?”
Richard shouted, “What do you think of yourself?! You’re just an orphan! Besides, we all know it’s Scott!”
Scott, trying to defend himself, “I work in IT; I have money.”
Richard, still furious, “Then it must be Camilla, and she organized this meeting to divert suspicion from herself!”
Camilla, not backing down, said, “And why couldn’t it be you? Or your wife?”
Mrs. Smith, her voice pleading, “Please, enough,” she said.
Richard, reaching his breaking point, shouted, “I’m done with these accusations against my family. I’m calling the police and letting them sort it out!” He pulled his phone from his pocket, ready to make the call.
Suddenly, Mrs. Smith cried out, clutching her chest. “Ouch,” she said, her face contorted in pain.
Camilla, alarmed, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Mrs. Smith, her voice weak, said, “My heart hurts.”
“Let me take you home. I suggest we postpone our meeting and avoid making hasty conclusions,” Camilla said.
Scott approached Mrs. Smith and helped Camilla lift her. They walked together to the exit of the roof. In the background, Richard and Olivia could be heard.
“What a horror,” Richard said.
“Poor Mrs. Smith,” Olivia said, her tone softening slightly.
A few days had passed since that meeting on the roof. Everyone suspected each other and avoided conversations. The once friendly neighbors had turned into enemies.
Camilla was coming home from work, climbing the stairs, when she heard someone leave the neighboring apartment. She expected to see Scott, but it wasn’t him.
“Mrs. Smith?” Camilla said, approaching her. “Why did you come out of Scott’s apartment?”
“I…I can explain everything…” Mrs. Smith stammered, looking nervous.
“Yes, that would be great,” Camilla said.
Mrs. Smith sighed heavily. “It’s pointless to lie; you caught me red-handed. Two months ago, my children said they would no longer support me and offered to take me to a nursing home. I refused and was left with nothing,” she confessed.
“Why didn’t you confess this at the meeting? We almost killed each other back then,” Camilla said.
“Because I was ashamed. Please don’t tell anyone. I’ll stop stealing, I’ll figure something out,” Mrs. Smith begged.
“I can’t promise you that,” Camilla said, and entered her apartment, hearing Mrs. Smith sobbing. Camilla texted all the neighbors except Mrs. Smith and told them everything.
A few hours later, they all stood together outside Mrs. Smith’s door. Mrs. Smith opened the door and looked at them sadly.
“Are you here to turn me in to the police?” she asked, her eyes filled with fear.
“No, we bought you groceries and some household items,” Camilla replied, holding up a bag.
“You should have told us your situation from the beginning; we would have helped you,” Olivia said, her tone softer than usual.
“Yes, robbing us wasn’t very polite,” Richard added, but his voice was less harsh.
“I’m sorry, I’m very ashamed,” Mrs. Smith said, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Now just let us know when you need something, and we’ll buy it for you,” Scott said, placing the grocery bags near Mrs. Smith. Tears streamed down Mrs. Smith’s face.
The neighbors became friends again, not enemies. They realized that understanding and kindness could solve their problems better than suspicion and anger.