‘Who? Who would put …?’ I stutter, looking at Rosamund. ‘Elise said someone looked in her window with a mask on, didn’t she?’

‘I know,’ she says through tears. ‘I was sure she was making it up – like last time – or it was her imagination.’

Finn lifts his hand to touch the mask.

‘Don’t touch it,’ I say. ‘It could have fingerprints.’

‘Seriously?’ Finn narrows his eyes. ‘You think someone is going gloveless in this weather?’ He lowers his hand all the same, and turns on the spot, his eyes flitting across the area.

I do the same. It’s far too quiet. Not even the rustle of trees.

‘There’s someone else here,’ he says, snow absorbing his words. ‘Can you feel it?’

My eyes are back on the mask. ‘We should turn back,’ I say, a tremble in my voice. ‘All stay together.’

‘We can’t,’ Rosamund says. ‘We must call the police, and Neil. We have to find Elise.’

*

We trudge onwards, silent but on high alert, Rosamund and Finn checking their phones every few minutes, in the hope of getting a signal.

The gate to the estate is now in view. Surely if Dad got a signal when he was this far out, one of our phones should soon spring into life.

We take another twenty or so steps, before Finn calls over his shoulder that he’s got a few bars. ‘It’s not much, but I’ll give it a go.’

He taps his screen, and presses his phone to his ear. ‘Hello … hello … sorry, this is a terrible line. Police please.’

We wait and watch.

‘Finn Kinnaird,’ he goes on. ‘We’re stranded at Drummondale House in Dunlaig. My mother—’ his voice cracks ‘—my mother has been murdered.’ He pauses. ‘Ruth Kinnaird … yes, that’s right.’ Another pause. ‘And a young girl has disappeared – Elise Green – we don’t know where she is.’ He takes a deep breath, holding his chest. ‘And the weather conditions are awful. We need help. Fast.’ He looks at us, and pulls the phone from his ear, whispering, ‘I’m not even sure they can hear me properly.’

‘Shall we try walking a bit further?’ I suggest. ‘Maybe Rosamund will get a better signal.’

‘Yes, I’m still here.’ Finn presses the phone back against his ear, and then he’s silent. Listening. ‘OK. Yes. There are … six of us, but we think someone else is here.’ He screws up his face. ‘Right.’

‘Tell them to contact Neil,’ Rosamund calls. ‘Neil Green, he needs to know what’s happened to Elise.’

‘There’s one more thing,’ Finn says into the phone. ‘Can you contact the girl’s father, Neil Green …’ He looks at Rosamund, as she reels off a mobile number, and repeats it into the phone, before finally ending the call.

‘What did they say?’ My words are weak; my teeth chatter.