Yet she had seen something, and more than once, Jan thought.

Or had she?

Was it possible that living alone in the cottage, following the trauma of losing her job and partner, she was imagining things, even hallucinating? Ruby evidently thought so.

Perhaps she should take up her offer to stay with her. But she’d have to give Camile notice first and then allow her time to make arrangements for someone else to stay in the cottage and look after Tinder. She’d feel bad letting Camile down, but if her mental health was suffering then she really shouldn’t stay any longer.

Half an hour later Jan had made the decision that tomorrow she’d accept Ruby’s offer to stay, and go as soon as Camile had sorted out arrangements for Tinder. Jan would email Camile first thing in the morning. Once at Ruby’s, she’d be able to take stock of her life and maybe see a therapist to help her deal with all the bad stuff that had been going on.

With the decision made, Jan finally fell asleep. It was nine o’clock when she woke. The sky outside was light. She could hear Ruby moving around downstairs. Getting out of bed, Jan put on her dressing gown and slippers and went down.

‘Sorry, I overslept. I’m not much of a host,’ she said, going into the living room.

Ruby was dressed. The curtains had been opened and the sofabed put away. Ruby looked tired and drawn and Jan immediately felt guilty. She should have insisted she took her bed. ‘I’ll make us some breakfast,’ she said.

‘No. I’m going and I want you to come with me,’ Ruby said as she packed the last of her belongings into her weekend bag.

‘Why so soon?’ Jan asked, surprised. ‘I was going to make us breakfast.’

‘I don’t want anything to eat, thank you. I’ve had a glass of water. I’m going now and I want you to come with me,’ she said again.

‘I can’t, not just like that. I’ll need to tell Camile first so she can find someone to look after Tinder.’

‘Bring the dog if necessary,’ Ruby said. ‘But I think you should get out of here.’ She zipped shut her case.

Jan stared at her. ‘Why? What’s happened?’

Ruby met her gaze. ‘It’s not your imagination, Jan. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. There is something or someone out there. I heard them last night, tapping at the window. I opened the curtains, but they’d gone. I haven’t slept a wink.’

‘Tapping at the window?’ Jan asked. ‘I haven’t heard that before. Could it have been the wind causing something to tap on the glass?’

‘No, Jan. I know what I heard. It was more of a knock than a tap, as if someone was trying to get my attention.’