Then the shadows stilled and for a while nothing changed. The rain was fine but persistent; clouds covering the moon. The night was dark. Nobody came to the living room window. Marnie and Will’s eyes became tired from watching.

At last the front door opened, light spilled onto the steps and the police officers emerged, walked across the drive and got back into their car. There was a delay before they started the engine. Guy stood at the door until they had driven away, their car sweeping past Marnie’s.

‘At least Guy is still there,’ Will said, but a few moments later the front door opened again and, after embracing his father, Guy left the house and he drove away too.

‘Mr deVillars must have convinced them that everything’s all right,’ said Will. ‘Still, he won’t do anything now, will he? It would be too risky.’

Marnie stared at the house, frowning.

She was thinking about what Camille had told her, and how vulnerable the woman was. How easy it would be for her to have an ‘accident’, to fall down the stairs, to slip under the bathwater.

Too easy.

‘Shall we head off?’ Will asked.

Marnie shook her head.

‘You want to stay?’

‘Yes.’

Will considered for a moment, then he said, ‘OK. We’ll stay together.’

67

Marnie texted Zoe to let her know that she and Will were outside the Big House.

If you need us or if you’re worried, call me or text.

Up at the window beneath the gable, the curtain moved. Marnie flashed the car headlights and Zoe responded with a wave. She didn’t text to say their presence was unnecessary. She didn’t suggest they went back to Marnie’s cottage and that she’d call them there if there was a problem. She must have her own grave concerns.

Marnie and Will sat together in the cold car. They couldn’t put the radio on because the battery was on its last legs. They were cold and uncomfortable. The rain sometimes fell heavily, sometimes lightly. Will told Marnie the story of how he’d rescued Luna from the mud. He elaborated, said that the tide was washing round his ankles before he managed to free the dog; made out that he’d been genuinely afraid for his own safety. Marnie listened. From time to time, she nodded or widened her eyes. It was a good story. Will looked forward to telling it to his London friends. It put him in a good light.

He left out the part where he’d considered walking away and leaving the dog to drown.

After that he couldn’t think of anything else to say, but it was OK, they were comfortable together. They settled back into their seats. For a long time, nothing happened apart from the configuration of the lights in the Big House changing as Mr deVillars moved from room to room.