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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

Ian took another couple of steps, hiding himself behind the trees as he went after her. He’d rescue the children and then phone the police and let them deal with Anne. Suddenly a twig snapped under his foot. Shit. He froze, hoping they hadn’t heard. All movement stopped. The wood fell silent. Then Anne’s voice called out, ‘Who’s there?’

Ian stayed where he was, hardly daring to breathe. His stomach churned and sweat trickled down his neck. Then there was movement from somewhere in the forest. Something was running towards him. He couldn’t see what. He should get back to the car and phone the police from there. He turned and fled, ran as fast as he could through the undergrowth. Out of the woods and onto the track. He could hear footsteps behind him, gaining on him, then Anne’s voice again: ‘Stop! Come here, now!’

He looked behind him, lost his balance, tripped and fell. Down, down. No time to save himself before his head hit the ground. Pain shot through his skull as the trees began to shimmer, swimming in and out of focus. He tried to shout for help, but the cry died in his throat as he began to lose consciousness. The last image he saw before darkness engulfed him was of a small face looking down on him. Then nothing.

FIFTY-FIVE

Jan stood at the open window in the back bedroom, her phone in her hand, watching and listening. It was quiet in the woods now. Not a sound. She’d rushed up here, hoping for a better view, one that would allow her to take another video clip, but it hadn’t happened. She’d seen two torch beams in the woods, the same woman’s voice, and then nothing.

She wasn’t going to call the police again. It would only be a repeat of last night. By the time they arrived there would be nothing for them to investigate, and last night she’d got the feeling the officer they’d sent had thought she was wasting police time.

Reluctantly, Jan closed the window and admitted defeat. She wouldn’t be replacing the video Chris had deleted, now or in the future. This had been her last chance. She’d already telephoned Camile and said she was sorry, but she needed to leave the cottage as soon as possible as she wasn’t happy here. Camile had taken it very well, considering, and said she would book a flight straight away and would text her once she’d landed. Jan had agreed to stay until she arrived.