‘Dorothy?’ Kim’s ears pricked up and Chantelle immediately regretted her words. ‘Dorothy McShane has been here?’ An exultant look came into his eyes. ‘Well, now I know that there’s something strange going on!’

‘She used to live here,’ Chantelle began quickly – but broke off at a deafening ‘CRACK’ from the far side of the recycling area.

‘Oh my God,’ gasped Chantelle, spinning around in alarm. ‘What was that?’

‘That,’ said Kim, ‘was what I was waiting for!’ He set off across the yard towards the source of the noise.

‘No, wait …’ Chantelle tried to catch his arm but Kim brushed her off. Cursing her shoes again, she set off after him, her high heels threatening to trip her at every step. What the hell was she doing? She should be in the club by now, drinking two-for-one margaritas with Becky and Gina, not picking her way through garbage in pursuit of some UFO-obsessed madman.

When she caught up with Kim, he was crouched behind a clothes-recycling bin, peering into the dark alleyway beyond. As she approached, he waved his arms in alarm. ‘Be quiet, or they’ll hear us!’

Biting her lip to stop herself telling him exactly what she thought of him right now, Chantelle ducked down next to him. ‘Who will hear us?’

Kim pointed towards the shadows at the far end of the alleyway. Chantelle peered into the gloom. To her surprise there were two figures there, lurking next to the fence that ran along the rear of a line of council properties. Both of the figures were small and wearing what appeared to be filthy hooded tops.

‘You see them?’ hissed Kim.

‘I see a couple of kids.’

‘Not kids.’ Kim shook his head vigorously. ‘It’s them. I know it. They must be planning another abduction.’

Chantelle had had enough now. ‘Oh for God’s sake. They’re bored kids! They’re either out here smoking ciggies they’ve stolen from their parents or they’re spray painting their stupid tags on the fence.’

She stood up, snatching the torch from him and pointing it down the alley. ‘Oi! You two! Haven’t you got better things to be doing on a Friday night, because I know that I …’

As the two figures were lit up by the torch beam they turned in Chantelle’s direction, and her voice dried in her throat as she caught a glimpse of the faces beneath the hoods. Sharp features pushing from matted hair. Large, dark eyes …

From behind her she heard a sharp intake of breath from Kim. ‘Oh, God. It’s them! It’s really them.’

Abruptly the two diminutive figures turned and fled.

‘No. Wait!’

Grabbing the torch from Chantelle’s hand, Kim raced off in pursuit. Chantelle didn’t move, shocked by what she had seen; whatever had been staring back at her, it hadn’t looked entirely human.