Emilia’s front door, the limewashed walls of the cottage itself, and her gate, were daubed with black swastikas.

‘Oh shit! The poor woman!’ Will and Matt ran up to the cottage. No one answered their knock, and when they looked through the garage window, they saw that her car had gone. Will wondered if she had already seen the desecration and had gone to the police, or whether this latest bout of vandalism was to be yet another unwelcome surprise for the old lady. They stood in silence, surveying the grim graffiti.

Matt’s phone rang.

‘Liz?’

‘Mattie! I’ve got Mrs Swain here.’ She sounded upset.

‘I know what you’re going to say. Will and I are at the cottage now. Have you called the police?’ he asked.

‘Just done it, they are sending a crew out. Will you wait for them, Matt?’

‘Of course.’ Matt shook his head. ‘Hell, Liz, I was only a few metres up the bloody road! How is Emilia?’

‘Distraught. As you can imagine, this has hit her hard. When you are through there, can you come home and then escort her back to Little Anchor? She’s going to pack a few things and will stay with one of her late husband’s relatives in Louth.’

‘Best thing. And tell her yes, I’ll bring her back as soon as the police have finished out here.’ He ended the call.

Will photographed some of the graffiti on his phone. Then he rang Kate. ‘I’m going to be a bit later than I said, Kate, and I’ve sent you some pictures of what they’ve done. Take a look and tell me what you think.’ For some reason, Will sensed that something wasn’t quite right about the symbols painted on the wall.

After a moment or two she rang back. ‘Whoever they are, Will, they aren’t fascists — well, not very smart ones anyway. The symbols are back to front. Hitler’s swastika was a Greek cross with the arms bent at right angles, going clockwise, but these aren’t like that. The swastika is an old Sanskrit symbol for good luck and well-being. Any real Nazi would get that right, wouldn’t they?’

He grunted. ‘I had a feeling you’d know, but where on earth do you get all this stuff from? No, don’t tell me — research.’

‘Of course. Fairies and other magical beings are all tied in with signs and symbols. Think of the unicorn.’

‘So? If it’s not some neo-Nazi group, then who the hell is trying to frighten this old lady to death?’

‘I have no idea. That’s your department, Mr Policeman. I’m just a researcher. Now I have to get back and finish what I was doing. See you soon.’

Will put his phone back in his pocket and told Matt what Kate had said.