Ahead of her were more torchbeams, highlighting a horror. The grave of Polly James, the one at the top of the aisle in front of the altar, the one she knew so well, had been opened. Inside was Polly herself, the white wedding gown she’d been buried in turned yellow and crumbling with age. Polly’s skull was grinning up at them all as if in welcome.

Standing beside the grave was Jeb Cleaver, his fist wrapped around Blue’s string in a tight, choking grip. Blue’s muzzle was bound with gaffer tape. His eyes were frantic, pleading. Jeb pulled the string tighter and Blue whimpered in pain.

‘Don’t . . .’ said Claire, swallowing bile.

Then she saw the knife in Jeb’s free hand.

‘Don’t!’ Claire surged forward but strong hands held her fast. She looked back. It was the oldest Cleaver, Ciaran, his blind eye blank, the other one full of mockery at her weakness. She couldn’t move, couldn’t help. She looked back to Jeb. Her voice faltered. ‘Please don’t hurt—’

Jeb swiped the knife in one swift movement across Blue’s throat. The whimper turned into a choked cry of agony. Blood spurted. And Blue went limp. Jeb unwrapped the string from his fist, letting Blue collapse, dead, to the floor.

‘No!’ Claire shouted, her face twisted with anguish. ‘Oh God, what have you done?’

‘The same as we’ll do to you, if you don’t fucking well clear off,’ said Shauna Everett’s voice behind her.

Gasping in shock, Claire turned her head toward that voice. In the huddle of torchlit bodies, she could see Shauna standing there. Open-mouthed with disbelief, Claire stared at her.

Shauna’s dark gaze held Claire’s steadily. ‘I told you you’d be sorry.’

‘You bitch, you horrible cruel cow!’ cried Claire.

Jeb moved, grabbing Blue’s lifeless body by the front legs and tossing him in on top of Polly James. Ribs snapped and dust rose in the torchlight, mouldy and stinking of the grave, as Blue’s body thumped down on the skeletal remains.

‘You see that?’ said Shauna, pointing.

‘I’ll get you for this,’ said Claire, panting against Ciaran’s restraining bulk. ‘You bitch, you’ll pay for this.’

‘I said, do you see?’ said Shauna more harshly, grabbing Claire’s chin and directing her gaze to the grave.

Claire said nothing. Horrified tears poured down her face. They’d killed Blue.