She picked up her diary and flicked through it, thinking she might write in it for a while, but then her stomach began to churn, and she thought she might have a snack instead.

*

Nell was in the kitchen, standing by the sink, staring into the dark. She should lock up, get to bed, if there was no answer to her email in the morning she’d ring Chris.

Maude padded into the kitchen and opened the fridge. ‘Can I have a biscuit?’

‘You can’t possibly be hungry. Not after that meal.’

‘Is that a yes or a no?’

‘It’s a no. You’re probably thirsty.’ Nell picked up a glass from the draining board and filled it from the tap. ‘Here.’

‘If I drink it and I’m still hungry after, then can I have a biscuit as well?’

Nell didn’t answer and, sighing elaborately, Maude reached out to take the glass.

‘What’s that?’ Nell caught hold of her hand and turned it, inspecting her palm – there was a livid red spot on the fleshy part of Maude’s thumb.

Maude wriggled free. ‘Nothing. A nettle sting.’

‘Sorry, I—’

Maude frowned. ‘Can you hear that?’ she said, looking up at the ceiling.

‘What?’

‘There’s someone upstairs,’

‘Don’t be daft.’

‘There is, listen.’

Nell couldn’t be sure, it might just have been the thudding of the blood in her veins, but she thought she could hear someone walking unsteadily across the room above.

Someone limping. One-two.

It was impossible, ridiculous, because of course there was no one there. Both doors were locked, she was certain of that, and while most of the windows were open, they were far too small for anyone to get through, and anyway, nothing had tripped the security lights. Apart from Nell and Maude, the house was empty.

Then why didn’t it feel empty?

‘They’re upstairs,’ said Maude.

It was a relief, in a way, that she could hear it too. One-two.

Like a child.

Nell walked quietly into the hall, Maude sticking close behind. It was gloomy and silent and still, and the smell she had noticed last night, the damp, smouldering smell, was back. ‘I’ll go and look,’ she said. ‘You wait here.’

*

The noise, if there had been a noise, and Nell was no longer sure that she’d heard anything, had appeared to come from the front of the house – her and Chris’s room. She walked slowly up the stairs.

The door was ajar, but that didn’t mean anything, she often left it like that. Since Chris had left, she hadn’t even bothered to close it when she went to sleep, judging it best to keep half an ear out for Maude.

There’s no one here, she reminded herself, before taking a breath and pushing the door open.