Heather said, ‘This is really creepy. Have you made an enemy recently?’

Kirsty’s face creased with anxiety. ‘I don’t believe this. Who can be doing it?’

Jamie said, ‘I’d better go and tell the pizza guy to take it away.’

He went back into the hall, leaving Kirsty cursing behind him. He felt sick.

‘Sorry mate, but I think you’ve been hoaxed. You’d better take it back.’ He pulled an apologetic face.

The pizza courier turned round and stomped back to his moped. As he rode off down the road, Jamie stepped onto the front path and looked left and right, up and down the street. For a city street, there were hardly any signs of life. It was almost unnaturally quiet and still. He turned to go in and the oddest feeling came over him – the feeling that he was being watched. Despite the balmy summer air, he suddenly felt cold. Goosepimples ran up his arm and he shivered a little. He looked around again. No, there was no-one about, although there were lights on in most of the flats in the street; windows thrown open to let in whatever breeze there was.

He looked down at the Newtons’ flat. The lights were out. There were no signs of life. But their car was there, parked in the spot Jamie and Kirsty had had to vacate earlier. He looked up towards Mary’s window. The light in the room flickered strangely, and at first he thought it was the flicker of a television. It took him a second to realise she must be sitting in candlelight.

He hugged himself. He still felt cold. The hoaxes had really unnerved him. Nothing like that had ever happened to him before. He had never been targeted for mischief by anyone.

He thought about what Heather had asked. Had they made any enemies recently? He honestly couldn’t think of anyone. With the flat-buying and everything, they had hardly seen anyone lately, apart from at their party. He didn’t think they’d upset anyone at all. It was a mystery.

He turned round and went back inside, rubbing the skin on his arms, not warming up until he was safely indoors.

Chapter Four

Four