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Back The Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. THIRTY-FIVE
  38. THIRTY-SIX
  39. THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. THIRTY-NINE
  42. FORTY
  43. FORTY-ONE
  44. FORTY-TWO
  45. FORTY-THREE
  46. FORTY-FOUR
  47. FORTY-FIVE
  48. FORTY-SIX
  49. FORTY-SEVEN
  50. FORTY-EIGHT
  51. FORTY-NINE
  52. FIFTY
  53. FIFTY-ONE
  54. FIFTY-TWO
  55. FIFTY-THREE
  56. FIFTY-FOUR
  57. FIFTY-FIVE
  58. FIFTY-SIX
  59. FIFTY-SEVEN
  60. FIFTY-EIGHT
  61. FIFTY-NINE
  62. SIXTY
  63. SIXTY-ONE
  64. SIXTY-TWO
  65. SIXTY-THREE
  66. SIXTY-FOUR
  67. SIXTY-FIVE
  68. SIXTY-SIX
  69. SIXTY-SEVEN
  70. SIXTY-EIGHT
  71. SIXTY-NINE
  72. SEVENTY
  73. SEVENTY-ONE
  74. SEVENTY-TWO
  75. SEVENTY-THREE
  76. SEVENTY-FOUR
  77. Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
  78. Keep Reading …
  79. Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
  80. About the Author
  81. Books by Lisa Stone
  82. About the Publisher

‘Why didn’t you come and get me?’

‘And spook you even more? I thought about phoning the police, but what could I have said? That I heard a tapping noise and when I opened the curtains there was nothing there?’ She picked up her case. ‘Come on, Jan. Please come with me. I’m worried about you.’

‘I can’t, not straight away. I’m not even dressed, and I need to tell Camile.’

‘I’ll wait while you dress then. Bring the dog.’

‘I can’t. He doesn’t travel well. I have to look after him here, and the cottage, until Camile can find someone else.’

‘And I can’t change your mind?’ Ruby asked.

‘No. It’s just not practical for me to up and leave.’

‘Are you sure?’

Jan nodded.

‘Your decision, but come as soon as you can. Take care and look after yourself. This place gives me the creeps.’ Ruby kissed Jan’s cheek and then headed down the hall where she opened the front door. ‘Sure I can’t persuade you?’ she asked one last time.

‘No. I’ll be OK. You drive safely.’

‘Speak soon.’

Jan watched Ruby get into her car, turn it around and then drive off along Wood Lane. As Jan closed the front door she felt strangely calm. Exonerated. She had the evidence she needed. She wasn’t losing her mind. Ruby had heard something too. Last night Jan had gone to sleep convinced it was her imagination, but Ruby had just proved otherwise. There was something out there and she intended to find out what before she left.

THIRTY-FIVE

Still in her dressing gown, Jan made herself a coffee. Although she was reassured she wasn’t imagining things, she didn’t feel any less threatened. Far from it. Whatever it was, was getting braver by the day and appeared to be closing in on her. When she’d first arrived, it – or they – had stayed away, hiding in the woods, possibly watching her and waiting to make their move. After a few weeks they’d begun coming into the garden but had been scared off by Tinder. Their confidence had grown and they’d become bolder: making eye-contact at the window, running through the trees in Wood Lane, leaving the ball of twine where she could see it. Then last night was their boldest move yet – tapping on the glass to attract Ruby’s attention. Pity they hadn’t done it when Chris was here. They were becoming fearless, but who were they?