‘Christ, Ray! Don’t creep up on me like that. This old place is sinister enough.’

‘Sinister? It’s just a rundown cottage. You’ve an active imagination, don’t you?’

He walked around her and into the house.

‘Get behind me, I’ll protect you.’

She scoffed and followed him in – all six foot of him – almost hoping they’d encounter a situation where he’d have to shield her from something.

They moved from derelict room to room, searching for evidence that the previous owner might have kept Mary Ellen prisoner there. Laura had no idea how thoroughly Ultan Doyle had gone over the place when the Lehanes had reported Mary Ellen missing. She’d have laid money on not very thoroughly at all.

They were in the rear sitting room when Ray found something that got both their hearts racing.

‘What’s that?’ he asked, pointing at the wall.

Laura frowned.

‘What can you see?’

‘Look.’ Ray crossed the room and ran his fingers over the decaying wallpaper.

Then Laura saw it. It was the imprint of a door, covered by the faded floral wallpaper.

‘Jesus. Well spotted.’ Excitement mixed with trepidation as she helped Ray pull a threadbare settee away from the wall.

Together, they ripped off the paper.

Behind it, they found the door, the handle removed.

‘How will we open it?’ Laura asked, her heart beating fast.

Ray pushed, but he knew it was futile. He could see from the hinges that the door opened into the room. He stood aside for Laura who dropped to her knees and peered through the keyhole.

‘We need a hanger or something to get a grip in here and pull it open. That’s if it’s not locked.’

‘Would a pocket knife do?’

She raised an eyebrow.

‘I see you’re familiar with breaking and entering, Detective.’

‘One of my many talents.’

She let him do the job, inserting the knife into the lock, hoisting it up and tugging the door towards them. It came easily.

Behind the door was another obstacle, plywood this time, old and rotting. Somebody had gone to a lot of trouble to block off whatever was in the next room. Butterflies filled Laura’s stomach as Ray poked at a disintegrating piece of the wood and made a hole.

‘That’s weird,’ she said, peering through it. ‘It looks like a small box.’

‘Ah. Hang on. I’ve just thought of something.’

Ray left the room.

Laura peered through the hole and tried to summon the courage to put her hand in and feel around. There didn’t seem to be anything in there, but she couldn’t help but conjure up images of fist-sized spiders.

‘Boo!’

She leapt back as light filled the space and Ray’s face appeared.

‘What the hell?’ she yelped.