After fifteen or so minutes, there’s movement. I rub my eyes – I’ve had them trained for so long on the small screen that my vision is blurry and unfocused. Eight people leave, one after the other. It’s as though they’ve been queuing to get out. Maybe Carl has had them signing something before they go. It’s another five minutes before anyone else leaves. I watch the back of another three people as they walk away. That leaves two people. My pulse picks up as I imagine the remaining couple talking about where their furniture will fit in, telling Carl how they can imagine themselves living in my house. Am I being too optimistic? My fingers drum nervously on the table.

Come on, people. Want my house. Want it, want it.

A full seven minutes later I see a figure on the step. A man. He ambles down the step and to the left of the property. He’s checking out the garden, I assume. His partner must still be looking inside. Maybe Carl was right. He said he had a good feeling about the open house. I try not to allow my sudden optimism to outrun my usual cautiousness. It might mean nothing. Another person finally comes into view. The man turns towards the door, so his face is clear. It’s Carl. My optimism deflates as rapidly as it appeared. The other man’s wife isn’t with him. Where is she? I watch as Carl locks the front door and turns, something under his arm – seemingly his diary – and heads towards the road. No one is with him. No one else has left the house.

‘You still watching?’ Jo’s voice makes me jump.

‘That’s weird,’ I say.

‘What now?’

‘Only twelve people came out.’ I frown at the mobile app, noting the flashing battery indicator.

‘You sure? You didn’t miscount?’

‘No. A group of eight, then three, then one man. I was waiting for what I assumed to be his partner to come out, but then Carl did. Alone. And he just locked up and left too.’ I consider this again for a moment, totting the people up again. But I’m sure I’m right. ‘Not everyone came back out, Jo.’

Chapter Twelve

If I’m careful, I could come out of it with what I want. Which is to be forgiven for my part in all this.

It’s a bit like Jenga, though. Remove the wrong block and the carefully constructed tower will come tumbling down.

Things must be played in a certain order – the right people have to be in the right place before another move can be made. It’s complicated. It could be a lengthy game.

Worth it, though.

It has to be worth it in the end.