The idea scraped an even bigger chunk out of my heart and I rubbed my chest and told myself to focus on the present and how I was going to get help.

I looked up the drive and saw that it led to a road. A real road, not a dirt road. I had reached civilization. At long last I might be near a town – a place where I could find a policeman.

Crouching low, I pushed open a large swing gate and darted through. I dashed over to the car and hid behind it, peering round at the house, trying to work out whether it was safe.

The house had a large white door and red-brick walls. A pretty white and black sign reading Greenfield House had been attached to the wall beside the front door. Two pots of beautiful flowers hung from either side of the door, making the place seem warm and kind. It looked so nice. So posh. So light. Curtains were drawn open in all four windows: two downstairs and two upstairs. There were no boards, no tape, no attempts to hide anything. This was a nice, happy, normal home, I felt almost sure of it.

Exhaling to steady my nerves, I left my hiding place and hobbled to the front porch.

I raised my hand to knock but someone opened the door, making me jump.

Chapter 32

‘Oh my!’

A very old woman with short white hair that curled neatly under her chin answered the door. She was small and thin, wearing a floaty, mint-green dress. Her skin was so wrinkly it looked like a scrunched-up paper bag. A white shawl was draped across her narrow shoulders. I could smell something sweet and thought it must be her moisturizer. Her wrinkled hands flew to her mouth as she took in my appearance. I stared back at her, wondering what she saw when she looked at me. What she was thinking. She gripped the door frame and for a moment I thought she was going to slam the door in my face.

‘Harold! Harold!’ she shouted, turning round, her voice hoarse.

She turned back to me and said gently, ‘Wait here a moment, dear. I must get Harold.’

‘Who’s Harold?’ I said, feeling a stab of fear, but she had already retreated into the house leaving the door wide open.

Beyond the door was a dark wood floor and a few steps away was a staircase with a white banister. There was nothing on the floor. No drink cans in sight. Only a clean, flowery smell, like roses before they died.