‘Oh, don’t worry,’ I say, relaxing in the wake of Ed’s nervousness. ‘I’m not scared of ghosts. In fact, I’d find them rather reassuring. It’s the living we have to worry about more than the dead, don’t you think?’

He regards me for a moment then, assuming I’m making a joke, bursts into uneasy laughter.

‘Yes,’ he says, straightening his tie. ‘I must say I’m far more scared of my mother than any poltergeist. Now, where were we? Right, I just need to get a few details from you before we proceed. If we could start with your name.’

I freeze. For the first time I have quite forgotten to create a persona.

‘Iris,’ I say, letting the name fall from my lips like a delicate butterfly.

‘That’s great,’ says Ed, his head bowed over the computer. ‘And your surname?’

I look up at the enlarged street map on the wall behind Ed’s desk. The first name I see is Lawson Industrial Park.

‘Lawson,’ I reply, hardly missing a beat. ‘Iris Lawson.’

‘Excellent,’ says Ed. ‘And I’m going to need a contact telephone number and address.’

Shit. I hadn’t thought about that. I can’t give a fake address as Ed will quickly suss me out. I decide to give Georgie’s. It’s a suitably impressive postcode and it’s highly unlikely Ed or his colleagues will follow it up.

‘Okay,’ he says, once he’s entered the details into his computer. ‘Now, may I ask a little more about your situation? Are you a cash buyer? Chain?’

‘Cash buyer,’ I say, thinking on my feet. ‘I’ve been left an inheritance.’

‘Lucky for some,’ he says, grinning awkwardly. ‘Now, taking a look at the appointment schedule, we could get you in to view the property on Friday if that works for you.’

My chest tightens. It can’t wait until Friday. It has to be today.

‘I don’t suppose you could do it this afternoon?’ I say, putting my head to one side, coquettishly. ‘You see, it’s rather important I see it as soon as I can. It’s a matter of urgency. Er, what I mean is, I really think this is the house for me.’

I stop, angry at myself for blurting out that it was a matter of urgency, but my passion seems to have an effect on Ed and, with a hefty commission in sight, he picks up the phone.

‘Let me see what I can do,’ he says, typing in a number. ‘We may just be able to sort something.’

I listen as he speaks to the person on the other end of the phone.

‘Yes,’ he says, nodding. ‘This afternoon, if possible. You can? Oh, that’s splendid. I’ll send her along. Thanks so much. Goodbye.’