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Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for The House of Whispers
  3. Title Page
  4. Note to Readers
  5. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  13. Seven
  14. Eight
  15. Nine
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  19. Twelve
  20. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  21. Thirteen
  22. Fourteen
  23. Fifteen
  24. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  25. Sixteen
  26. Seventeen
  27. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  28. Eighteen
  29. Nineteen
  30. Twenty
  31. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  32. Twenty-One
  33. Twenty-Two
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  37. Twenty-Five
  38. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  39. Twenty-Six
  40. Twenty-Seven
  41. Twenty-Eight
  42. Twenty-Nine
  43. Thirty
  44. Thirty-One
  45. Thirty-Two
  46. Thirty-Three
  47. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  48. Thirty-Four
  49. Thirty-Five
  50. Thirty-Six
  51. Thirty-Seven
  52. Thirty-Eight
  53. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  54. Thirty-Nine
  55. Forty
  56. Forty-One
  57. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  58. Forty-Two
  59. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  60. Forty-Three
  61. Forty-Four
  62. Forty-Five
  63. Forty-Six
  64. Forty-Seven
  65. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  66. Forty-Eight
  67. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  68. Forty-Nine
  69. Fifty
  70. Fifty-One
  71. Fifty-Two
  72. Fifty-Three
  73. Fifty-Four
  74. Fifty-Five
  75. Fifty-Six
  76. Fifty-Seven
  77. Fifty-Eight
  78. Fifty-Nine
  79. Sixty
  80. Priory Hospital North London: 20 December 2019
  81. Acknowledgements
  82. About the Publisher

‘Good,’ Katie said. ‘Well, if you’re ever ready to sell…’ she gave a little laugh and a wink, ‘I expect you’d get a very good return on that one.’ She sorted her brochures and pushed one across the table. ‘Right. For your friend, we currently have this. It’s very nice. Spacious. Recently redecorated. Walkable.’

I looked at the price and recoiled. ‘Is that what a one-bed costs these days?’

Katie pursed her lips and nodded. ‘Yep. It’s commuter-belt. Good schools, too. We also have a few studios that would come in a bit cheaper. Do you think your friend would consider that?’

I waggled my head this way and that, already regretting coming in, and Katie slid over another brochure. The photographer had tried their best but even I could tell they must have had their back pinned to the wall to make the room look anything other than tiny. Despite containing a bathroom and a ‘kitchenette’, it wasn’t much bigger than our rooms in Halls had been – all very well when you were eighteen and starting out, perhaps not so now.

Still, Grace did have a knack with interiors. She’d taken one look at the way I’d done my room in Halls and waved her magic wand over it. Shifting the bed up against the window and moving the desk to the side, she’d created a much more inviting area with more floor space. A potted plant here, a throw and a couple of cushions there, and she actually made the room look homely and welcoming. But I couldn’t see what she could do to improve this place.

‘Thank you so much,’ I said, pushing the details back to Katie. ‘Honestly, I don’t really know what she’s looking for so maybe it’s best I leave it to her. But thanks anyway.’

‘No problem,’ Katie said, handing me her card. ‘Get her to drop by or give me a call when she’s here and I’ll see what we can find for her.’

I practically ran out of the shop, shielding my eyes against the sudden blast of light. I owed Grace – we both knew that. It was why she’d written to me in the first place. I’d still do anything for her – as I always had. It’s what was expected.

In my gut, I had that feeling I was cresting the top of a rollercoaster, my stomach clenched and my muscles tensed; my mouth open ready to scream as I plunged headfirst into the abyss. Walking quickly, I turned into Albert Road, glad to leave the High Street, Katie and the estate agent’s behind.

Four