It was quiet in the room. Eventually Rose could make out the individual sounds of the house: the faint ticking of a clock, a tap dripping and what she guessed must be heat moving through the pipes like a flushed toilet.

“Will you take a cup of tea?” he asked. “It’s a nasty night to have come out.”

He stood up, found his cane and hobbled off, refusing an offer of help. Rose and the cat stared at each other with mutual malice while he was gone.

There was a clattering in the kitchen, then he brought in a teapot and took fragile china cups and saucers from an old china cabinet. Rose knew then it was a special occasion and that old Mackey did not often have visitors. He was enjoying himself. Perhaps he didn’t believe her at all. They drank tea and ate the chocolate cake. At last, Mackey spoke. “I do not believe in ghosts, but neither do I disbelieve in them.”

She told him she had not thought of Nancy as a ghost.

“A ghost might appear in a dream or not as it sees fit. Perhaps she didn’t want to scare you.”

“But she did. This time at least. I’m usually a sensible person,” Rose added lamely.

“A relief that is,” he said. “Too many people without sense in this world.”

“Then you believe me?”

He put up his hand. “Vigilate et orate,” he said. “Watch and pray. In the meantime, what do you want from me?”

It was an unexpected question. What did she want? “I thought if you believed me, you’d know what to do.”

“Have a word with the police on your behalf?” “Yes, something like that. They’d listen to you.” “Tell them about this little chat?”

“No!”

Mackey looked serious. “It’s never wise to mask the truth. If this girl is found where you say she is, God help her, there will be a police investigation. Your part in it may have to come out.”

“But could you not say anything at first? It could turn out to be nothing at all. And if they don’t find any … thing … in the junkyard, then nobody needs to know about my dream.”

“You don’t like the gift then?”

“What gift?”

“The second sight.”

Rose felt a tremor go through her.

“No, I can see not,” Mackey said sadly. “It’s a heavy burden for a young girl like yourself.” “You really believe in things like that?” “Didn’t you already suspect as much? Why else would you come to see Old Mackey?”

“My brother told me to come.”

“Ah, now I place you. That naughty young man’s sister. He’s grown up considerably since we first met. Comes up here for a chat quite regularly. And has he the gift as well?”