– You had us murdered in our beds because we kept coming to your door, looking for Elise. Did you not, Mr Udnam? All five of us would come here smartly dressed before church on a Sunday and again on a Tuesday, sometimes on a Friday.

Bessie says this quietly.

– We only ever had one question.

He looks over at Bessie and Clementine.

They hold hands.

Watch his face for a reaction.

– Our mother was the only one who survived the fire. Did you know she couldn’t pay for our funerals? Had to bury us as paupers? It was in the Edinburgh paper that week. You know our mother jumped from a bridge not two minutes from here because you murdered us, don’t you?

– I am so sorry, Agnes whispers.

– Her son went first in birth, then five daughters and another missing.

– Our sister left home before us, Mr Udnam.

– She was beloved to us all.

– We didn’t want her tae go, we missed her.

– She came here to live with you.

– Engaged tae be married we heard.

– To the very Minister of Culture. Our mother was so proud!

– A step up, that’s what she said!

– All the steps up!

– She lived here with you downstairs and you had her dresses made fir her and her hair done at a fancy place and you did everything you could to make her look like a lady, but she couldnae bring you a child could she? That’s why you got Jessie. Did you think we didn’t know?

– What did you do to her, Mr Udnam?

– Is that why you killed us?

– Because we kept coming to your door to ask questions?

– You were scared we’d ask them on the street. Where’s our sister?

– We will not stop following you until ye let us ken what happened to Elise, so ye might as well dae it right now!

Olive slams her hand on the beam to emphasise her point.

– Where is our sister, Mr Udnam?

Mary asks it in the smallest, sweetest voice she can muster.

Rain has softened into rivulets on the windowpanes.

He takes his head out of his hands.

Archie is staring at him. He is unable to hear anything but he somehow understands it all. He is close to his wife, much closer than she knows. Agnes’s mind and heart and soul are totally open to these girls and their heartbreak, she will not stop this seance until they are heard.

– We died on a Wednesday.

– Five of us in one fire.

– The fire was in Leith, I remember. It’s you?

Agnes asks this.

All the girls nod.

Archie wipes tears off his cheek. He wrings his hands.

– I am so sorry.

– We don’t need pity, Mrs Campbell. We need answers from him.

– You must answer them, Mr Udnam. You will only get one chance. You do know they have come to escort you from here today?