‘It’s a bit weird,’ he said.

‘We do weird,’ the male officer said. He glanced at his colleague. ‘We’re all ears.’

‘I was on the lake. You know, up past River Road.’

‘I know it,’ she said.

‘I was on my dad’s boat. It was dark and I was about to come back when I saw a light in a house.’

‘A light in a house,’ the man said. ‘Keep going.’

‘It was flashing on and off. I think it was SOS. You know, that signal.’

‘Morse Code,’ the female officer said. ‘You think you saw an SOS distress signal from a house by the lake? Are you sure?’

‘Yes. Pretty sure. I googled it.’

‘There’s no way it was just someone turning their light on and off? Or changing a bulb?’ she said.

‘They did it three times, at least,’ Finn said. ‘Then I flashed my headlamp back at them and they started on a message.’

‘Which was?’ the man said.

‘Aneal. A, N, E, A, L.’ Finn shrugged. ‘No idea what it means.’

The female officer looked at him with a penetrating gaze. ‘Are you having us on, young man? Because if you are, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble.’

‘No,’ Finn said. ‘I’m not.’

‘OK,’ she replied. ‘We’ll check it out. Which house was it?’

No one ever comes here. I don’t have deliveries and if there are letters they are put in the letter box at the end of the drive.

It is my sanctuary.

And it is being violated.

I look out of the window at the top of the stairs. It affords a view of the front door.

There are two police officers there, a man and a woman. For a moment I consider killing them. I have acid in the basement and I picture myself running down and grabbing it and then throwing it in their faces when I open the door.

Then I drag them into the basement and torture them to death.

It is a delicious thought but I have to put it to one side. It will only invite more trouble.

What I have to do is get rid of them.

I descend the stairs step by step, making sure I am not breathing heavily and my expression is composed. I feel the ice in my veins. This is almost fun.

I open the door and raise my eyebrows to show I am surprised to see police officers at my door. Then I smile to show I am not worried by their presence.

‘Hello,’ I say. ‘How can I help?’

The woman speaks. ‘I’m PC Berry. This is PC Gibb. We had a report of an SOS signal from this location yesterday,’ she says.

I make a baffled face. It is easy, as that is how I am feeling.

‘SOS?’ I say. ‘I don’t understand.’