Fatal Affair: Police Officer's Deadly Obsession with Neighbor | True Crime Documentary
The quiet suburban paradise of Redwood Glenn became the backdrop for a tragedy that would forever change the lives of those involved. Jessica Reed and her husband Ben had moved there seeking a peaceful escape from city life, unaware of the complex dynamics they were stepping into. Their neighbor, police officer Tom Grayson, viewed their arrival with thinly veiled contempt, setting the stage for a dangerous game of emotional manipulation.
What began as Jessica's rebellious attempt to disarm Tom's prejudice evolved into a perilous entanglement neither anticipated. Their secret meetings ignited a possessive obsession in Tom that escalated when Jessica tried to extract herself from the situation. His fixation darkened into something sinister, culminating in violence that shocked the community and sent him fleeing across state lines, a fugitive haunted by his actions.
Key Takeaways
An attempt to challenge prejudice through manipulation spiraled into a dangerous obsession with fatal consequences.
Unchecked possessiveness can transform into violent fixation when rejection challenges a person's sense of control.
The aftermath of betrayal created ripples of destruction affecting multiple lives beyond the immediate participants.
Moving to Redwood Glenn
Jessica Reed and her husband Ben chose Redwood Glenn for its peace and quiet, seeking refuge from the city's constant noise. Their arrival in the suburban neighborhood marked the beginning of new challenges they hadn't anticipated. The tranquil community they envisioned would soon become complicated by unexpected tensions and dangerous relationships.
Jessica's New Beginning
Jessica initially viewed Redwood Glenn as an escape and a fresh start. The quiet streets and well-maintained homes represented everything she wanted after years of urban living. She and Ben quickly settled into their new home, establishing routines and enjoying the suburban lifestyle. Their backyard porch became a favorite spot where Jessica often entertained her mother Clara during afternoon visits.
Neighborhood Conflict with Officer Grayson
Tom Grayson, a local police officer living nearby, immediately displayed coldness toward the Reeds. His self-appointed role as neighborhood protector masked thinly-veiled prejudice. Their interactions, while outwardly polite, carried unmistakable tension.
Jessica's mother warned her about Tom's attitude during one of their porch conversations, but this only ignited Jessica's determination. Rather than avoiding conflict, she decided to challenge Tom's prejudice through a dangerous game of charm and manipulation. What began as casual greetings evolved into deliberate encounters:
Morning waves when Tom left for work
"Accidental" meetings at the property line
Friendly conversations with subtle flirtation
The dynamic shifted when Jessica appeared at Tom's garage one evening. Their resulting affair occurred dangerously close to Tom's home, with his wife Monica just inside. For Jessica, it remained a game of power—proof she could change his perception. For Tom, however, it awakened dangerous obsession.
When Jessica eventually ended their meetings, Tom's rejection transformed into:
Jealousy
Stalking behavior
Growing rage
Dangerous fixation
Tom's deteriorating mental state led to threatening messages and property tampering. Jessica's reluctance to involve authorities or tell Ben about her past actions left her vulnerable. Despite her mother's concerns, Jessica believed she could handle the situation alone—a tragic miscalculation.
Tom's obsession culminated in violence when he seized an opportunity while Ben worked overnight. The next morning, Ben returned to find Jessica murdered, with Tom's wedding ring left at the scene. Consumed by grief and vengeance, Ben vowed to pursue justice while Tom fled Redwood Glenn, haunted by his actions.
The Troubled Officer
Tom Grayson, a local police officer in Redwood Glenn, harbored deep-seated concerns about newcomers to his suburban neighborhood. His interactions with Jessica Reed were noticeably cold from the beginning, with tension bubbling beneath their polite exchanges. For Tom, the concept of neighborhood safety was inexorably linked to exclusivity, revealing his prejudices.
When Jessica began to respond to his hostility with deliberate warmth and attention, Tom initially dismissed her overtures. However, his defenses slowly crumbled as her greetings lingered and her smiles became more pointed. Though he tried to brush off these interactions, his gaze would often linger a moment too long.
The dynamic between them shifted dangerously when Jessica escalated her behavior, creating opportunities to interact with Tom and speaking to him in hushed, teasing tones. What began as Jessica's attempt to assert power over someone who judged her by her skin color evolved into secret meetings in Tom's garage, mere steps away from where his wife Monica spent her evenings.
Tom's Views on Safety and Community
Tom's definition of safety in Redwood Glenn was problematic from the start. He believed:
Exclusivity equals security: He viewed homogeneity as necessary for neighborhood stability
Outside influences posed threats: New residents represented potential disruption to his comfort zone
His role as protector: He positioned himself as unofficial guardian of community standards
These perspectives revealed Tom's narrow worldview and contributed to his initial coldness toward Jessica. When she later withdrew her attention, his fragile ego couldn't process the rejection. His possessiveness intensified into obsession, with late-night calls and manufactured reasons to see her.
As Jessica pulled away completely, Tom's disappointment transformed into something much darker. He began surveillance of her home, tampered with her belongings, and left threatening messages. His jealousy of her relationship with Ben fueled his anger, driving him to develop a calculated plan to silence her permanently.
The culmination of his obsession occurred on a rainy night when Ben was away. Tom, consumed by rage and wearing gloves to hide evidence, crossed their yards with deadly intent. His actions that night would shatter multiple lives and force him to flee Redwood Glenn, haunted by paranoia and the violent aftermath of his actions.
A Deceptive Veneer
Tense Interactions and Maternal Caution
Jessica Reed and her husband Ben moved to Redwood Glenn seeking tranquility away from the city. Their neighbor, police officer Tom Grayson, harbored prejudices that manifested in cold exchanges and disapproving glances whenever they crossed paths.
One afternoon, Jessica's mother Clara visited and they conversed on the back porch about neighborhood dynamics. Clara cautioned her daughter about Tom, sensing his hostility. Jessica dismissed these warnings, instead feeling challenged to change his perception of her.
This wasn't about attraction but about power—Jessica wanted to prove she could disarm a man who seemed to despise her based solely on her race. She began a calculated campaign, offering warm greetings and prolonged smiles whenever she encountered Tom. Initially, he remained aloof, but soon his gaze began lingering slightly too long.
Jessica escalated her tactics, finding excuses to be outside when Tom returned from work shifts. She would stand closer than necessary during conversations, her voice dropping to a whisper as she teased him about his protective stance in the neighborhood. Tom's wife Monica noticed his increasing distraction but he attributed it to work stress.
The situation intensified when Jessica appeared at Tom's garage one evening. "Need any help with that, officer?" she asked playfully. Despite his internal conflict, Tom found himself drawn to her presence. Their secret meetings became regular occurrences, always dangerously close to where Monica might discover them.
For Jessica, the victory of breaking through Tom's prejudice soon lost its appeal. As Tom became increasingly possessive—calling at inappropriate hours and creating excuses to see her—she began pulling away. What had started as a rebellious game had transformed into an unwelcome burden.
Tom's reaction to this rejection was disturbing. His jealousy transformed into anger as he watched her normal interactions with Ben. His obsession deepened, leading to sleepless nights and dark thoughts. Jessica remained unaware of how dangerous his fixation had become.
The situation deteriorated further when Jessica found her car keys tampered with and a threatening note. Despite Clara urging her to contact authorities, Jessica chose to handle the situation alone, unwilling to risk exposing the affair to Ben. Meanwhile, Tom's rage solidified into a deadly plan that would have devastating consequences for everyone involved.
Jessica's Determination
Standing Up to Prejudice with Confidence
Jessica Reed moved to Redwood Glenn seeking tranquility with her husband Ben, but quickly encountered resistance from neighbor Tom Grayson, a local police officer. Tom's cold demeanor and subtle hints about "keeping the neighborhood clean" revealed his prejudice.
Sitting on her back porch with her mother Clara one afternoon, Jessica received warnings about Tom. Rather than feeling intimidated, Jessica felt a spark of rebellion. She wasn't motivated by attraction but by the desire to challenge Tom's prejudiced views.
Jessica began a calculated campaign of warmth, greeting Tom with increasingly friendly smiles and lingering eye contact. Her strategy was simple but effective: disarm him with charm and prove his prejudice could be overcome. Initially, Tom maintained his distance, but Jessica noticed his gaze beginning to linger.
Her approach became bolder over time. She would:
"Accidentally" appear outside when he returned from shifts
Lean in close during conversations
Speak in teasing whispers about his role as the neighborhood watchman
The tension between them grew palpable, shifting from hostility to something more complex. Jessica recognized her growing influence as Tom's resistance weakened.
Tom's Crumbling Resistance
Tom's long-held convictions began to falter under Jessica's persistent charm offensive. Despite his initial disdain, he found himself drawn to her in ways that contradicted his beliefs. His wife Monica noticed his distractedness, but Tom dismissed it as work stress.
One evening, Tom was working in his garage when Jessica appeared at his driveway. "Need any help with that, officer?" she asked with mischief in her eyes. The encounter marked a turning point as Tom's resistance collapsed completely.
Their interactions evolved into secret meetings in Tom's garage, dangerously close to where Monica went about her daily life. For Tom, these moments provided an unexpected thrill:
An escape from his mundane existence
A confusing contradiction to his prejudiced worldview
A growing emotional attachment he couldn't control
Jessica, however, viewed their encounters differently. For her, it remained a game—a way to prove her point about breaking through his prejudice. After a few months, the victory lost its appeal, and she began pulling away.
Tom couldn't handle the rejection. His feelings transformed into obsession as Jessica returned to her normal life with Ben. His nights became sleepless, and his thoughts darkened. What had begun as prejudice, then attraction, now morphed into dangerous fixation.
Monica noticed the changes in her husband—his agitation, distraction, and short temper. Meanwhile, Jessica started noticing Tom's car parked on her street too often, his gaze lingering on her home. When she found a threatening note and discovered her car keys had been tampered with, the gravity of the situation became clear.
An Escalation Beyond Control
A Perilous Attraction
Jessica Reed moved to Redwood Glenn seeking tranquility with her husband Ben, but quickly found herself at odds with neighbor Tom Grayson, a local police officer. Their interactions were strained, with Tom making little effort to hide his prejudice. Rather than avoiding him, Jessica developed a rebellious plan to disarm his hostility.
What began as a power play shifted into something more dangerous. Jessica deliberately created opportunities for interaction—greeting him warmly, maintaining eye contact too long, and finding excuses to be outside when he returned from work. She leaned close during conversations, her voice dropping to whispers as she teased him about his protective nature toward the neighborhood.
Tom's resistance gradually weakened. Despite his initial coldness, his gaze began to linger, creating a palpable tension between them. His wife Monica noticed his growing distraction, though he attributed it to work stress rather than revealing the truth.
Concealed Meetings
Their first private encounter occurred when Jessica appeared at his garage one evening. "Need any help with that, officer?" she asked, her proximity intoxicating and her eyes reflecting mischief. Despite his better judgment, Tom gave in to the dangerous thrill.
These clandestine meetings became regular occurrences:
Secret rendezvous in his garage
Monica unaware just inside the house
Each encounter intensifying their forbidden connection
For Tom, these meetings awakened feelings he hadn't experienced in years, though each moment felt like a betrayal of his principles and marriage. Jessica, however, viewed it merely as a game—a victory over the man who had shown her such disdain.
After several months, Jessica grew bored and uncomfortable with Tom's increasing possessiveness. His calls came at odd hours, and he invented reasons to see her. When she began pulling away—avoiding his glances, cutting conversations short, and eventually ending their meetings—Tom's rejection transformed into obsession.
His jealousy twisted into anger as he watched her normal life with Ben continue. Sleep eluded him while his thoughts darkened. Tom's fixation deepened into something sinister, his mind calculating ways to regain control. What Jessica had dismissed as a harmless game had unleashed something dangerous in Tom—something that would only be satisfied by silencing her permanently.
The Breakdown
Monica Grayson's Growing Concerns
Monica Grayson couldn't ignore the subtle changes in her husband's behavior anymore. Tom seemed constantly distracted, his mind elsewhere during their conversations. When she asked about his distraction, he would quickly blame work stress, often snapping at her before retreating to his garage for hours.
His patterns had shifted noticeably. She caught him staring out windows toward the Reed house, checking his phone more frequently, and making excuses to be outside at odd hours. The late-night "tool tinkering" sessions in the garage became more frequent, yet nothing around their house seemed to be getting fixed or improved.
Monica initially believed his explanation about job pressure. After all, police work carried its burdens. But the timing of his mood shifts coincided suspiciously with Jessica Reed's arrival in the neighborhood - the same woman Tom had initially complained about so vehemently.
Tom's Inner Struggle
Tom Grayson found himself trapped in a psychological war between his long-held beliefs and his growing obsession. The contradiction tormented him daily - how could he be drawn to someone he had deemed an unwelcome outsider? His nights became sleepless, filled with self-loathing and justification.
When Jessica began pulling away, Tom's fragile emotional state crumbled completely. What started as stolen moments in his garage transformed into something darker. He began driving by her house repeatedly, watching from windows, and crafting elaborate scenarios where she would return to him.
The rejection consumed his thoughts. Tom's mental state deteriorated as he plotted his revenge, meticulously planning each detail:
Surveillance: Memorizing Jessica's schedule
Preparation: Gathering materials that wouldn't be traced back to him
Opportunity: Identifying when she would be alone
Execution: Rehearsing the confrontation mentally
His police training provided the perfect skillset for his obsession. Each night in his garage, Tom sharpened both his tools and his resolve, convincing himself that Jessica deserved punishment for discarding him. The rational, dutiful officer disappeared, replaced by a man driven entirely by wounded pride and dangerous fixation.
Changing Dynamics
Jessica's Diminishing Enthusiasm
Jessica initially approached her interactions with Tom as a challenge—a way to assert control over someone who clearly disliked her presence in the neighborhood. Her warm greetings and lingering smiles were calculated moves in what she considered a game of power rather than attraction. As their secret meetings in his garage became routine, Jessica felt a sense of triumph in breaking down Tom's resistance.
However, after several months, the thrill of the forbidden relationship began to fade for Jessica. What had once felt like an exhilarating rebellion against prejudice transformed into an unwelcome burden. She started creating distance between them—cutting conversations short, avoiding his gaze, and eventually stopping their clandestine meetings altogether.
Jessica believed Tom would eventually accept her withdrawal and move on with his life. She returned to her normal routine with Ben, unaware of the dangerous intensity brewing in Tom's mind. When strange occurrences began—her car keys being tampered with, cryptic notes appearing on her porch—she felt growing unease but chose to handle the situation alone rather than risk exposure.
Tom's Intensifying Obsession
Tom's initial attraction to Jessica, despite contradicting his long-held beliefs, quickly evolved into something more controlling. As their secret relationship progressed, he became increasingly possessive, contacting her at unusual hours and manufacturing reasons to see her. His behavior at home changed noticeably, with Monica detecting his distraction and agitation.
When Jessica began pulling away, Tom's emotions transformed into a dangerous cocktail of rejection and rage:
Sleepless nights filled with dark thoughts
Jealous observations of Jessica with Ben
Increasing fixation on making her "pay" for her rejection
His professional life as a police officer blurred with his personal obsession, creating a precarious psychological state. Tom began stalking Jessica, parking at the end of her street and watching her home for hours. His jealousy and anger intensified to the point where he meticulously planned to eliminate what he saw as a threat to his control and dignity.
Tom's emotional decline followed a clear pattern:
Initial attraction and secret meetings
Growing possessiveness and control attempts
Rage and rejection when Jessica withdrew
Obsessive planning culminating in violence
The situation reached its tragic conclusion when Tom acted on his darkest impulses, leaving behind devastating consequences before fleeing Redwood Glenn to become a fugitive haunted by his actions.
A Fracturing Relationship
Jessica's Growing Distance
Jessica began to notice the uncomfortable shift in her dynamic with Tom after several months of their secret meetings. What had started as an exciting challenge—a way to disarm a neighbor who clearly disliked her—had transformed into something suffocating. Tom's behavior became increasingly possessive, with frequent calls at inappropriate hours and manufactured reasons to see her.
The thrill of their forbidden encounters faded quickly for Jessica. She started implementing subtle distance—cutting conversations short, avoiding his gaze, and eventually stopping their clandestine meetings altogether. For her, the game had run its course; she had proven her point and was ready to move on.
Ben, Jessica's husband, began sensing something was amiss. He had noticed the earlier flirtations but trusted his wife completely. When he finally confronted her about Tom's lingering stares, Jessica minimized the situation, calling Tom "harmless" despite her growing internal unease.
Tom's Dangerous Obsession
Tom couldn't process Jessica's rejection. His nights became sleepless as dark thoughts consumed him, watching from his window as she laughed with Ben in their home. What began as jealousy quickly transformed into something more sinister—a deep-seated anger that demanded resolution.
His behavior at home began to change noticeably. Monica, his wife, regularly observed his agitation, constant pacing, and distracted demeanor. When questioned, Tom would deflect blame to work stress, but internally he was unraveling, completely fixated on Jessica's dismissal.
Tom's surveillance intensified to alarming levels:
Parking his car at the end of Jessica's street frequently
Watching her home for extended periods
Leaving threatening messages, including tampering with her car
The situation escalated when Jessica found a cryptic note reading "it's not over" on her porch. Though deeply concerned, she hesitated to involve authorities, fearing the potential scandal and Ben discovering their affair. Her mother Clara urged police involvement, but Jessica insisted on handling the situation herself—unaware that Tom had already set a deadly plan in motion.
Tom methodically crafted his approach, studying Jessica's schedule and waiting for the perfect opportunity to confront her alone. His garage became the planning center for a violent resolution, each passing night intensifying his determination to silence her permanently.
The Dangerous Fixation
Tom's Strategic Manipulation
Tom Grayson, a local police officer in Redwood Glenn, harbored immediate resentment toward Jessica Reed when she moved into the neighborhood with her husband Ben. His cold demeanor and subtle hints about "keeping the neighborhood clean" revealed his prejudices.
Jessica initially approached their tense interactions as a challenge, developing a strategy to disarm his hostility. Her warm greetings and lingering smiles were calculated moves in what she viewed as a power game rather than genuine attraction. She sought to control the reactions of a man who seemed to despise her based on her skin color.
The dynamic shifted dramatically when Jessica's calculated charm evolved into deliberate provocation. She created opportunities to encounter Tom when he returned from shifts, speaking in hushed tones and teasing him about his watchful presence in the neighborhood. These encounters intensified into secret meetings in his garage, mere steps away from his unsuspecting wife Monica.
For Tom, these clandestine meetings provided an exhilarating thrill despite contradicting his professed values. His initial resistance crumbled completely, transforming into dangerous possessiveness when Jessica began withdrawing from their arrangement. His calls became frequent and desperate, his reasons for seeing her increasingly contrived.
Ben's Oblivious Position
While this dangerous entanglement developed, Ben Reed remained largely unaware of the full extent of his wife's interactions with their neighbor. He had noticed some flirtatious behavior but trusted Jessica completely, believing their relationship strong enough to weather any challenges.
Jessica's growing discomfort with Tom's intensifying behavior eventually became apparent to Ben. He observed Tom's lingering gaze on their home and sensed his wife's unease, but when he confronted her about it, Jessica minimized the situation, describing Tom as "harmless" despite her private concerns.
Warning signs continued to accumulate:
Tom's car frequently parked at the end of their street
Jessica's keys being tampered with
A threatening note reading "it's not over"
Jessica confided only in her mother Clara about these disturbing developments, refusing to approach authorities for fear of scandal and Ben discovering the full truth. This decision to handle the situation alone proved tragically miscalculated as Tom's obsession intensified into something deadly.
Ben's world shattered when he returned home one night to find Jessica murdered. The discovery of Tom's wedding ring at the scene revealed the horrifying truth, transforming Ben's grief into vengeful determination to bring Tom to justice.
Rising Tensions Lead to Violence
The Formation of a Deadly Obsession
Tom Grayson's initial prejudice toward Jessica Reed transformed into a dangerous fixation. What began as Jessica's attempt to disarm his coldness through deliberate friendliness evolved into secret meetings in Tom's garage, just steps away from where his wife Monica remained unaware.
These clandestine encounters intensified over time, with Tom growing increasingly captivated despite his internal conflict. For Jessica, however, the interaction was merely a power play—a way to prove she could overcome his prejudice.
When Jessica eventually began pulling away, Tom's response became alarming. His possessiveness manifested in late-night calls and manufactured reasons to see her. His rejection sparked a dangerous transformation as he spiraled into obsession, watching her home and leaving threatening messages.
Tom's deteriorating mental state became evident through his:
Increased agitation at home
Constant pacing and distraction
Defensive reactions when questioned
Regular surveillance of Jessica's property
The Tragic Confrontation
The situation reached its breaking point when Tom meticulously planned his final encounter with Jessica. After studying her routine and waiting for her husband Ben to leave for an overnight shift, Tom executed his deadly scheme. Moving silently between their properties, he carried his sinister intentions to completion.
Ben returned home to find the unimaginable—Jessica's lifeless body on their living room floor. Amid his overwhelming grief, he discovered Tom's wedding ring at the scene, instantly connecting the dots between his neighbor's obsession and his wife's murder.
The aftermath left multiple lives destroyed:
Person Impact Jessica Life tragically cut short Ben Left devastated and seeking justice Monica Betrayed by her husband's actions Tom Became a fugitive consumed by paranoia
Tom abandoned Redwood Glenn, fleeing across state lines. He hid in anonymous motels, constantly looking over his shoulder, haunted by his actions. Meanwhile, Ben transformed his grief into determination, vowing to bring Tom to justice for the horrific crime that had shattered his world.
Revelations and Truth Unfolds
The Shocking Discovery
Ben returned home one fateful evening to find the front door slightly ajar. Something felt immediately wrong as silence greeted him instead of Jessica's usual warm welcome. Calling her name with growing panic, he moved deeper into the house.
The living room became the site of his world collapsing. Jessica lay motionless on the floor, her life violently taken. Ben's anguished cry filled the empty house as he fell to his knees beside her, desperately clutching her hand as if he could somehow bring her back.
Through his tears, Ben noticed something gleaming on the floor near Jessica - a wedding ring that didn't belong to either of them. The distinctive band was immediately recognizable as Tom's, the neighbor who had always seemed to watch their house too intently. In that moment of horrific clarity, Ben understood who was responsible.
Aftermath of Tom's Violent Obsession
Tom fled Redwood Glenn immediately after the murder, abandoning his home and wife Monica without warning. His escape took him across state lines as he tried to outrun both law enforcement and his own conscience.
Living in seedy motels and constantly moving, Tom's existence became defined by paranoia. Every police siren caused him to freeze, and sleepless nights were filled with Jessica's face and the memory of what he'd done in his rage. His obsession had evolved into something monstrous, destroying multiple lives including his own.
Meanwhile, Monica faced the devastating truth about her husband's double life. She had noticed his strange behavior but never imagined the depths of his deception and violence. Community members who had once respected Tom now viewed his family with suspicion and pity.
Ben channeled his grief into a relentless pursuit of justice. Working with authorities, he provided crucial evidence about Tom's obsession with Jessica and the strange encounters she had mentioned in passing weeks before her death. His determination became an unstoppable force, driving the manhunt forward even when official leads grew cold.
The once-peaceful neighborhood of Redwood Glenn remained forever changed by the violence that had erupted from beneath its seemingly tranquil surface.
Living on the Run
Tom Grayson's life took a dramatic turn after the fatal night in Redwood Glenn. Once a respected police officer and neighborhood guardian, he disappeared into the shadows of America's vast landscape, leaving behind a broken community and a vengeful widower.
His carefully constructed identity crumbled as he abandoned his home, his wife Monica, and everything familiar. The man who had once prided himself on maintaining order became a fugitive, constantly moving to stay ahead of the consequences of his actions.
The Paranoia of a Hunted Man
Tom's existence transformed into a series of temporary shelters and anonymous interactions. He drifted from one dilapidated motel to another, never staying in one location long enough to be recognized. Each unfamiliar ceiling became another reminder of his crimes.
Sleep eluded him most nights. Every distant police siren caused his heart to race, and the smallest noises would jolt him awake in cold sweats. His hypervigilance never subsided—scanning every room for exits, every crowd for familiar faces.
Bus stations became his transitional havens, places where he could blend with other travelers while planning his next destination. In these crowded spaces, he paradoxically found anonymity, becoming just another face in the constant flow of people passing through.
The wedding ring he'd left behind at the crime scene haunted his thoughts. This small oversight, this single mistake, had become the physical evidence connecting him to Jessica's murder. He knew Ben had likely found it—and with it, the motivation to pursue him relentlessly.
Tom's paranoia manifested in constant glances over his shoulder and elaborate precautions. He avoided cameras, paid only in cash, and changed his appearance regularly. The skills he'd developed as a police officer now served his life on the run.
In quiet moments, memories of Jessica invaded his consciousness—her smile, her defiance, and ultimately her terror. These recollections tormented him more effectively than any physical pursuit could, turning his flight into a psychological prison without walls.