List give a count of zero when it have 1 element

Here is where I add the elements to the list

 Pellet ghostHouse1 = GameObject.Find("Pellets/23_ghost_house_empty1(Clone)").GetComponent<Pellet>();
         Pellet ghostHouse2 = GameObject.Find("Pellets/24_ghost_house_empty2(Clone)").GetComponent<Pellet>();
         Pellet ghostHouse3 = GameObject.Find("Pellets/25_ghost_house_empty3(Clone)").GetComponent<Pellet>();
 
         Pellet ghostHouseNeighbour1 = GameObject.Find("Pellets/26_ghost_house_neighbour1_empty(Clone)").GetComponent<Pellet>();
         Pellet ghostHouseNeighbour2 = GameObject.Find("Pellets/27_ghost_house_neighbour2_empty(Clone)").GetComponent<Pellet>();
         Pellet ghostHouseNeighbour3 = GameObject.Find("Pellets/28_ghost_house_neighbour3_empty(Clone)").GetComponent<Pellet>();
 
         if(this.name == "23_ghost_house_empty1(Clone)")
         {
             if(ghostHouse1 != null && ghostHouseNeighbour1 != null)
             {
                 neighbours.Clear();
                 neighbours.Add(ghostHouseNeighbour1);
                 validDirections.Clear();
                 Vector2 vec = ghostHouseNeighbour1.transform.localPosition - transform.localPosition;
                 vec = vec.normalized;
                 validDirections.Add(vec);
             }
         }
 
         if (this.name == "24_ghost_house_empty2(Clone)")
         {
             if (ghostHouse2 != null && ghostHouseNeighbour2 != null)
             {
                 neighbours.Clear();
                 neighbours.Add(ghostHouseNeighbour2);
                 validDirections.Clear();
                 Vector2 vec = ghostHouseNeighbour2.transform.localPosition - transform.localPosition;
                 vec = vec.normalized;
                 validDirections.Add(vec);
             }
         }
 
         if (this.name == "25_ghost_house_empty3(Clone)")
         {
             if (ghostHouse3 != null && ghostHouseNeighbour3 != null)
             {
                 neighbours.Clear();
                 neighbours.Add(ghostHouseNeighbour3);
                 validDirections.Clear();
                 Vector2 vec = ghostHouseNeighbour3.transform.localPosition - transform.localPosition;
                 vec = vec.normalized;
                 validDirections.Add(vec);
             }
         }

and here is where I need the list element

 if(isInGhostHouse)
         {
             direction = Vector2.up;
             targetPellet = currentPellet.neighbours[0];
             Debug.Log(currentPellet.neighbours[0]);
             startingPosition = currentPellet;
             //Debug.Log(startingPosition);
         }
         else
         {
             direction = Vector2.left;
             targetPellet = ChoseNextPellet();
         }

but as seen in the picture it have 1 element whule Debug.Log say Count = 0

as it show in inspector it have 1 element and I don't change any elements in the list between adding and reading. how can I not read the correct list ?