“It’s not the only explanation,” Rosie replied.

I sighed. “You’re not going to start on about the lighthouse being cursed, are you?”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit of a weird coincidence?” Rosie asked.

I was unsurprised to find that she looked excited rather than unsettled.

“I know you’re a sceptic, Jess, but doesn’t this prove that Will was right about the lighthouse? That it doesn’t like being photographed?”

I shook my head. “Rosie, come on. That’s just daft.”

My sister rolled her eyes as she slipped the phone back into her pocket. “What’s daft is you not 109believing the photographic evidence you’re seeing with your own eyes.”

Something about her tone suddenly made me suspicious, and I said, “How do I know this isn’t your idea of a joke? It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve played a trick on me with your photos. Remember that time you took a picture of my bedroom and then altered it to make it seem as if there was a ghost in the mirror?”

“I’m not playing a trick this time,” Rosie replied.

“Well, that’s what you insisted for months after that mirror photo,” I said. “It took you ages to finally admit that it was a hoax.”

“I swear that isn’t happening this time.”

She sounded genuine enough, but Rosie loved a bit of amateur dramatics, and I still didn’t know whether to believe her or not.

“Well, if you’re telling the truth, then it can’t be long until you capture that award-winning ghost photo.” I glanced through the kitchen window where I could see the food being laid out and said, “I’m going in to eat.”

“Fine,” Rosie said, still staring down at her phone. “I’ll come in a minute.” 110

I left her to it. In the kitchen, Dad and Kate were both fussing over Charlie, who was refusing to come out of the sitting room, so I took the opportunity to grab some food and take it upstairs. I didn’t want to eat in our bedroom in case Rosie followed me there and started banging on about her phone again, but then I remembered the unlocked trapdoor leading up to the lighthouse tower. If I moved quickly, hopefully nobody would notice, and I could get some time to myself for half an hour.