‘Oh, well – a fair few years,’ Anna said. ‘Twenty or so?’

‘You’ll come in for a coffee, yes?’ Sandie’s gaze searched the path and then she turned her head towards Muriel’s house. ‘No mum?’

‘Er … no. She’s in a bit of a funny mood. One of the reasons I’d rather speak to you alone, actually.’

‘Ah. I see.’ Sandie nodded in a way that conveyed an understanding.

Unlike Muriel’s house, which internally had largely remained the same as when it was newly built in the Sixties, Sandie’s had been transformed since the last time Anna had stepped inside. The lounge and dining room were now integrated, and it ran seamlessly into the L-shaped kitchen – modern decoration and updated kitchen units made the house feel totally different.

‘Wow, Sandie – it looks really great in here.’

‘Well, I have Ian. He does so much DIY still – he loves tinkering about in the house. Although I don’t let him have a say in the colour scheme; he’s completely uncoordinated when it comes to matching colours.’ She gave a laugh, and went to the kettle, grabbing two china mugs from the cupboard above. ‘Tea or coffee, love?’

‘Coffee, please. Although I consume too much caffeine really. I should cut down.’

‘Shouldn’t we all?’ Sandie smiled and dropped a heaped teaspoon of coffee into the mug. ‘Muriel tells me you’re teaching still. How is that going?’

‘Yeah, good thanks. It has its challenges, but it suits me and means I get the school holidays to spend with Carrie. Well, I usually do, anyway.’

‘Isn’t she with you?’

‘No. It was an … unexpected visit, let’s say. And I didn’t want Carrie being dragged into Mum’s drama.’ Anna felt her cheeks flush, guilt at bad-mouthing her mother surfacing.

‘Ah.’ Sandie pursed her lips as she handed a mug to Anna. ‘Where do you want to sit? Comfortable sofa or dining area?’

‘I’m easy,’ Anna said.

‘I have the feeling this conversation may require a comfy sofa.’ She smiled again, placing a hand on Anna’s shoulder as she moved back into the lounge. Although Anna hadn’t intended to dive right in and talk about her mother behind her back, the warm reception from Sandie – coupled with a familiar, friendly face – triggered an outpouring. After what seemed to be an hour of monologue from Anna, Sandie finally sighed and began her appraisal of the situation Anna had detailed.

‘Firstly,’ Sandie said, ‘I don’t think you need worry about dementia, or Alzheimer’s. Apart from some odd lapses of memory, I think Muriel is fine – or fine for our age, should I say.’ She smiled warmly. ‘Secondly, no – neither I, nor anyone else I’ve heard about, have received any such macabre items hammered to our doors. Tina hadn’t mentioned she’d had this happen to her when I saw her last. I can’t say I’ve seen anyone hanging about either. Which is odd, as I do like to know what’s going on in the street and often sit in the chair by the front window to watch the world go by. My guess is they have been performing this “game” for want of a better word, very late, or in the early hours when no one is about. The streetlights going off at one in the morning doesn’t help. Whoever is doing it, kids or adults, will be able to keep in the shadows and go virtually undetected. Now, as for your third point about contacting the police due to your suspicion it’s Billy Cawley, I’d advise caution there, love. You remember what this village is like, don’t you?’