She stops dead, holds her breath. Still not a sound from the chapel. Has she been caught out? If so, she is in the worst possible position. The intruder is somewhere above her, the steep, narrow staircase means she can’t use the baton to its full potential, and she risks falling down backwards. Keep going or retreat – she has to decide.

She takes a deep breath and runs up the remaining steps with her left arm raised to defend herself as she swings the baton over her head. But there is no attack. She stands in the chapel trying to locate whoever is in here. The full moon is directly outside the huge window, filling the room with it silvery light. There isn’t a sound, or any sign of an intruder. The only possible hiding places are the wide staircase behind the organ, or behind one of the screens Agnes uses for her photography. She checks behind the organ, glances over her shoulder in case someone comes at her from behind. Her heart is throbbing in her ears. Nothing. The staircase is also empty. She edges slowly towards the screens by the mural. Stops halfway, tightens her grip on the baton.

‘You might as well come out.’ Her voice echoes spookily throughout the big room. Nothing happens. ‘I’m a police officer,’ she says, a little louder. ‘Come out!’

Still nothing.

She moves forward until she can see behind the first screen; the space is empty. Only one place left – the screen in the other corner.

She pauses, listens. All she can hear is her own breathing. Her mouth is as dry as dust, the handle of the baton is sticking to her sweaty palm.

‘Come out!’ she says again. No response.

She reaches out with her left hand until she can touch the side of the screen. It is light, consisting mainly of aluminium and fabric. She jerks it towards her, backs away and lets go so that she has the space to swing the baton. The screen teeters briefly, then crashes to the floor.

The corner is empty. Anna lowers the baton, lets out a long breath.

Could she have imagined the whole thing? Was the noise she heard just the old house settling down for the night? It’s entirely possible, although she’s not ready to accept that explanation. But if there was an intruder, where the hell has he gone? She walks down the main staircase, checks the door leading to the yard. Locked and barred on the outside, just as she’d expected. She returns to the chapel. The big window doesn’t open. The view is almost as beautiful at night. Far away on the horizon, the sky has a faint, pink shimmer.