‘There you go, now we can see a bit better. I wonder where the treasure could be? Don’t touch anything yet, but can you see it?’

Sarah watched Tommy, who looked animated as he scanned the shelves for treasure. Then her eyes fixed on Mr Sayers’ shovel. It was in the corner, leaning against the wall. She instantly recognised it, together with his old flat cap, resting on top of the handle. She felt a lump in her throat and fought to hold back tears. She hadn’t expected to react like this, but it upset her to see his things, forgotten and covered in spiders’ webs and dust.

‘Where’s the treasure, Sarah?’ Tommy whispered.

‘I’m not sure. It’s a bit too dark to look tonight, so let’s get some sleep and we can have a look in the morning when the sun comes up.’

‘Sleep in here? But, Sarah, it’s cold and I don’t like spiders.’

Sarah looked around and saw a pile of old newspapers. She picked one up and could just about make out the date. 1948. The last time she’d seen Mr Sayers. These must be his papers, the ones she used to read to him, she thought. Then she spotted a ball of string on one of the shelves.

‘Sit yourself down in this chair,’ she told Tommy, pulling an old deckchair forward and opening it. The stripy cloth looked worn, but she thought it would be a comfortable place for Tommy to rest. ‘Now don’t you worry about any spiders. You’re a lot bigger than they are so they’re more frightened of you than you are of them. Anyhow, spiders can’t hurt you.’

Tommy looked apprehensive but did as he was told, while she took sheets of the newspapers and scrunched them around his feet. Then using the scissors that had been with the string, she cut it into lengths and tied it around the paper. She rubbed his legs briskly.

‘There you go, your feet will be as warm as toast now,’ she told him.

‘What if Captain Hook comes back for his treasure and finds us here? He’ll make us walk the plank!’

‘Don’t be daft, have you seen any pirate ships round here? If there is any treasure, it’s been here for years and long forgotten by the likes of Captain Hook. I’m going to put some newspaper over you then I want you to close your eyes and get some sleep. We’ll have to be up really early in the morning.’

‘But what about you, where are you going to sleep?’ Tommy asked.

‘Right here, on the floor next to you.’