Maurice hurried from the room, and moments later, above the television, she heard the sound of his car engine starting.

On the screen, an Antiques Roadshow expert was examining a collection of commemorative Coronation chocolate tins.

She became aware of the smell of cigar smoke again. Stronger than before. Much stronger.

‘Maurice!’ she called out.

She heard his car driving off.

A smoke ring drifted past her eyes.

She jumped up and went to the doorway. ‘Maurice?’

Behind her, the empty tub fell onto the carpeted floor.

‘Maurice!’ she yelled.

There was a sharp click and the television turned off.

An instant later the house was plunged into darkness.

Halfway up the stairs, she saw the red glow of a cigar.

‘Maurice?’

It moved towards her.

She fled, along the hall and out into the garden, slamming the front door behind her.

All the Christmas lights had gone off.

‘Maurice!’ she shouted.

34

Sunday 16 December

In his studio, Jason and Emily Danes stood, hugging each other tightly.

‘What’s happening?’ she asked. ‘Why is nothing going right for us since we moved here?’

‘I don’t know, Em. But we’ll deal with it.’

‘You heard what Claudette said in the pub. About the three families here who have died. What if the whole development is cursed or something?’

‘By what?’

She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. By some malign spirit that doesn’t want us here. That thing – woman – we both saw.’ She nodded at the gesso board on the floor.

‘I don’t want to believe in any curse. Coincidences, yes – to me it’s just a terrible coincidence those people dying, if Claudette was right. Frankly I think she’s bonkers – probably made it up.’

‘And if she wasn’t making it up?’

‘I’ll call the estate agent, what was his name – Paul Jordan – in the morning and ask him.’ He kissed her. ‘Look, that horrible old man in the pub, that farmer, Albert Fears, made it clear he didn’t like this development. Maybe he and a bunch of other like-minded locals decided to play silly buggers and try to spook the shit out of everyone moving here?’

‘By killing three couples?’

‘Let’s find out the truth about all of it tomorrow.’

‘You really think that old farmer could be capable of playing tricks in our house? Conjuring up a hologram that could speak? Come on, step out of denial-mode and get real,’ she said. ‘Don’t forget what they said in the pub about the history of this place.’

‘I am trying to get real, Em. I love this house. You love it, too.’

‘I did love it. I don’t any more. I wonder if we shouldn’t go and stay with my parents until—’

‘Until?’

‘Until we’ve cleared out whatever the hell is in here that shouldn’t be.’

From out in the hallway a sharp, furious female voice laced with menace rang out.

‘Just try.’

35

Sunday 16 December

The BMW’s headlights briefly flashed over the shivering figure curled up in the porch, her beehive hair collapsed around her face.