Suzie’s house was on the eastern side of town, in between the functional red-brick office blocks of the trading estate and the hammering racket of the A404, a dual carriageway that carried a constant roar of traffic. But despite the unprepossessing location, Suzie’s street was rather sweet, Judith thought to herself as she cycled onto it just before eleven o’clock the following morning. There were pretty two-storey semis on both sides of the road, cars on driveways, and geraniums in hanging baskets. Yes, it was all very nice. And then Judith arrived at the address Suzie had given her.

The front of the house was missing.

Judith blinked, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

No, her eyes weren’t deceiving her. The front of the house didn’t have any kind of wall to it and was instead a jumble of scaffolding, bits of blue plastic sheeting and exposed jacks and roof-supporting joists.

Judith couldn’t help but be impressed. She knew that she was someone who was happy to let things slide when it came to keeping up appearances, but even she would draw the line at not having a front to her house.

However, as she looked closer, Judith realised that maybe the building work was actually an as-yet-to-be-finished extension, and the original house was still lurking behind the unfinished brickwork.

Suzie emerged from the front door as Judith was leaning her bike against an old cement mixer.

‘Sorry about the building work,’ she said.

‘Nothing to apologise for. What are you having done?’

‘Oh, just an extension,’ she said airily.

‘I imagine it will be splendid when it’s done.’

‘Sure will. That’s the plan anyway.’

‘How long will it take to finish?’

‘Another two months, the builder says. Maybe a bit less if the weather remains good.’

‘Well, there we are, then. It will soon be over.’

‘Or that’s what he told me three years ago when he took all my money and scarpered. I’ve not seen him since.’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘The house has been like this for the last three years.’

Judith was lost for words.

‘Oh,’ she eventually managed.

‘But that’s life, isn’t it?’ Suzie said breezily, as though it barely bothered her at all. ‘People leave you. Your husband, your kids, and if you’re me, your builder as well. Come on in, it’s much nicer inside. And don’t worry. I’ve got no dogs staying with me. It’s only me and Emma.’

The inside of Suzie’s house smelled of dogs and stale cigarette smoke. There was scuffed, heavy-duty linoleum on the floor, the door to the sitting room had been removed, and Judith could see that there was no furniture anywhere. Not in the hallway. Not in the sitting room. There were only old dog beds and blankets scattered about.