Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
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Jan pulled aside more branches and saw another cluster of prints, which again could have belonged to anything. Whatever had been here had gone now, as had the feeling of being watched. It could have been her imagination all along. She needed to finish cutting the grass before sunset. The light was failing fast. If she didn’t finish cutting it now, she’d have to go through all the palaver of starting the mower from cold again tomorrow.
Returning to the mower, Jan started it without a problem and finished cutting the lawn. She emptied the grass box again and then wheeled the mower into the shed where it was stored. As she returned across the now freshly cut grass to the back door of the cottage, she heard a noise again. She spun round. There was nothing to be seen. Whatever was out there was well hidden on the other side of the hedge.
With a shiver, she quickly continued indoors. If the sensor light was working, once it was dark it should show her what was coming into the garden and hopefully put her fears to rest.
Tinder appeared from the living room ready for his dinner. Jan fed him and then checked her phone. There was a missed call from her mother – she’d speak to her once she’d made herself a hot drink. The temperature outside had dropped while she’d been cutting the grass and her fingers were cold. She cupped her hands around the mug of steaming tea and stood at the living-room window looking out onto the garden. The sun continued on its descent and at 6.30 Jan thought it was dark enough to test the sensor light.
She opened the back door and stepped out. To her disappointment, the light didn’t immediately flash on. But when she took another couple of steps across the patio and moved into its range, light flooded the area. It was working and it would cover the patio just outside the living-room windows.
Pleased with herself, Jan returned indoors as Tinder went out for a run. Closing the back door, she picked up her phone and texted Chris.
Hi! Success! I got the lawn mower and sensor light working! It was switched off. Just waiting to see who my nocturnal visitors are. Jan x
Making light of it helped ease her disquiet.
Five minutes later Chris replied, not congratulating her as she thought he would, but raising some concern.
Camile might have switched it off for a reason so maybe leave it off.
She texted back, feeling she should justify her actions: I thought it might have accidently been turned off.
His response was: I think you need to ask Camile before you change anything in her cottage.
She felt the censure of his words and was sorry. He was right: of course she should have checked with Camile first.
SEVEN
‘Do you think that police woman suspects?’ Emma anxiously asked Ian.