Now, as Tom splits the guests into groups, Kate slips quietly away. She puts her hand in her pocket as she walks down the corridor that leads to the bedrooms and folds her fingers around the keys the owner left in a locked box in the front garden. Each of the guests have a key to their bedrooms but what they don’t know, is so does she. Not that she’d need them if she wanted to check up on Peter, Phoenix or Priyanka. They’ve all left their doors open; their possessions on display to anyone walking past. It’s a good sign. They feel relaxed, secure and safe.

Geraldine’s door is closed. Kate presses a hand to it and pushes. Locked. She glances back down the corridor then slips the key into the lock. She steps inside, leaving the door slightly ajar and scans the room. It’s empty apart from a phone charger on the carpet and a navy blue suitcase on the bed. She unzips it, keeping one eye on the door. Taking care not to disturb Geraldine’s packing, Kate moves her fingers through the items of clothing, feeling for anything unusual. She’s not sure what she’s expecting to find – maybe a recording device, a laptop, anything that doesn’t fit with the information that Geri put on her form about being retired and grieving her late husband. She finds a washbag, which she quickly examines then replaces, a biography of Alan Turing, some medication, several pairs of socks, trousers, jumpers, underwear, pyjamas, a hairbrush and a reading light. And that’s it. She feels around the lining of the suitcase then, certain nothing is being concealed, zips it back up again. She looks back at the phone charger, plugged into the wall. There’s no mobile phone. If Geraldine did make a call to her editor she took her phone with her when she rejoined the group.

‘Damn it,’ Kate says softly then turns sharply, sensing she’s no longer alone.

The door isn’t just ajar now. It’s wide open. And Renata is in the doorway.

‘Everything okay?’ Kate’s question comes out more sharply than she intended but she softens it with a warm smile. ‘You’ve spoiled the surprise.’ She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small bar of chocolate, then places it on Geraldine’s pillow.

‘Oh that’s so lovely.’ Renata beams at her. ‘You’re so thoughtful.’

‘I thought you’d all need a bit of chocolate by the end of the day.’ Kate tilts her head questioningly. ‘The workshop hasn’t ended has it?’ A knot forms in her stomach. How long has Renata been watching from the door?

‘Oh no,’ Renata says brightly. ‘It’s still going. I left to use the loo. Too many cups of tea during the break.’