Cover

Dedication

To James ‘Shep’ Sheppard

Thank you for always believing in me.

PROLOGUE

When she looked back to the summer it happened, it hadn’t been all bad.

There were six of them that year, the Americans having moved to the village after Christmas. Generally, they were a tight-knit group and seldom let anyone else into their circle, but curiosity had been piqued by the different accents and cool clothes, and barriers had dropped. And for the first time, they had allowed a boy into their fold.

The country had been gripped by a heatwave and when school finally finished for the summer holidays, they made the most of it, meeting up early in the mornings, keen to show their new friends around. Lazy days were spent cycling along country lanes, playing games of hide-and-seek, climbing strawbales and daring each other to ignore the ‘DANGER, KEEP OUT’ notice and venture onto the train track.

When it became too hot, they went swimming in the river to cool off, and made future plans over lazy picnics of crisps, melted chocolate bars, and warm cans of Coke.

The days were hot but the nights were unbearable, and open windows had been a necessity. Heads had tossed and turned, finding no cold side to the pillow, and legs had dangled out of sheets; the need to escape the sticky heat overriding any fears of monsters under the bed.

It had been a blessed relief when they were allowed the occasional outdoor sleepovers. They were entering their teenage years and had excitedly talked about crushes, while spooking each other with urban legends, before falling asleep under a clear sky of stars, the only sounds coming from the intermittent hooting of an owl and the chugging of the last train as it passed through the edge of the village on its way from Marks Tey to Sudbury.

The memories were vivid and should have been innocent. And she guessed they mostly were.

Before the monster. Before her.

Everything had changed that summer, and in the aftermath, the last years of childhood had been robbed as they were forced under a media spotlight, now members of the newly coined Hixton Five, unable to escape what had happened, and having to relive the horrors again and again.

The monster had said that as they were children, no one would believe them. But she had been wrong. The adults had listened and they had believed. And the monster had been taken away.

That was twenty years ago.

When she allowed herself to think back to the sound of the lid closing, the darkness suffocating, that sharp and sweaty scent of fear, it was overwhelming and all too real.

So she tried not to remember. It was easier that way. She had built a good life and she tried to replace the bad memories with happy ones.

For a long time, it had worked.

But now, try as she might to leave the past behind her, the events of that summer were starting to plague her dreams again. Even creeping into her everyday thoughts.

Because the monster had been freed.

And she couldn’t help but worry that a storm was brewing.

1

As she stood on the beach watching the three dogs tussle over a frisbee, Hannah Cole reminded herself that moving to the North Norfolk coast was the best decision she had ever made.

Sometimes it was easy to forget that.

Yes, it was an hour’s drive from Norwich, where she had been living before, and the flat she had inherited after her beloved nan passed came with its share of problems. It was in the attic of an old four-storey building that had leaks and draughts and dodgy plumbing, and a lift that groaned loudly when working, which wasn’t often. But the trade-off was the flat’s location in the port town of Wells-next-the-Sea. The flat was in a cosy back street, but just a five-minute walk to the quayside and if she craned her head far enough out of her bedroom window, she could see the crabber and angling vessels moored in the harbour, and the creeks cutting a winding path through the salt marsh beyond.

Early each day, before the holidaymakers descended, she headed away from the bustle of the quayside, down the mile-long path that led to the beach. It was like entering a different world, especially when the tide was out, as it was this morning, and with miles of unspoilt golden sand before her, the crash of the waves in the distance, her mood always lifted.

The dogs loved it as much as she did and when they had tired of playing with the frisbee, she would take them into the pine woods that served as a backdrop to the prettily painted beach huts, before returning them to their homes.

Her Pawsome Pet Services was something she had started up earlier in the year, keen to cut back on her copywriting commitments and find a job she really loved. She got to work with animals and it was also more active, getting her out from behind her desk.

Rufus, Cookie, and Spot. They were her regular charges and she took them out most weekdays. The three of them were the best of friends, despite differing in looks and personality. Rufus the giant black poodle towered over Cookie the Tibetan terrier and scruffy little mongrel, Spot. Rufus was the youngster. Big and bouncy, with boundless energy, but gentle too. Cookie was highly strung, but also a diva, the pretty little princess who didn’t like to get her feet wet, while Spot was the most laid-back, taking everything in his stride. Hannah watched them as they played, enjoying the early-morning warmth of the September sun, the sky an almost cloudless deep blue.

She whistled to the dogs, rewarding Cookie and Spot, who came running immediately, with a dog biscuit each from the stash she kept in her bag. Rufus was always the stubborn one, initially ignoring her as he charged along the water’s edge with the frisbee in his mouth. He soon came bounding over when he realised he was missing out on treats.

As Hannah clipped on their leads and headed into the woods, the curtain of trees blocked out the sun, the temperature becoming cooler. This was one of her favourite parts of the walk, as she drew in the scent of the pine cones, the crunch of twigs underfoot overriding the thrash of the waves. She often had the woods to herself at this time of the morning, though never felt unsafe, the dogs alerting her if they heard anyone coming. Out here was a good place to be alone with her thoughts and make decisions. And right now, she needed to figure out what she was going to do about her mother and stepfather’s silver wedding anniversary party.

In two weeks’ time, she would have to return home to the sleepy village of Hixton in Suffolk, where she had grown up. As it was for a special occasion, her mother wanted her to stay for the weekend, while Hannah had plans to drive home after the party. It had been a bone of contention the last few times they spoke and Hannah was beginning to realise that unless she could find a compromise, she might have to give in.

She had left Hixton when she was nineteen, glad to put the place with all its bad memories behind her, and she avoided returning home for visits unless it was necessary. She never stayed the night, not even at Christmas, preferring to make the two-hour drive home, but on this occasion her mother was putting her foot down. The idea made her queasy.

Hannah was still searching for a solution when her pocket started vibrating, the sound reverberating through the woods. She reached for her phone, frowning when she saw the face of her best friend, Rosie, on the screen. It wasn’t yet 8 a.m. Rosie was never awake before 8 a.m.

‘Hey, you’re up early.’

‘Hannah?’ Rosie’s voice was a panicked whisper. ‘I need you to come and get me.’

‘Why? Where are you?’

‘There’s this guy and I’m at his house. We’re in the middle of nowhere. I want to go home.’

Hannah’s heart started thudding. ‘What do you mean there’s a guy? What happened? Did he force you to go against your will? Where’s your car?’

‘It’s back in the city. Please, Hannah. You have to help me before he wakes up.’

‘I’ll call the police.’

‘No! No, don’t call them.’

‘Has he hurt you?’

‘Just come and get me, please! I’ll explain when you get here.’

Hannah clicked onto Rosie’s Snapchat locator. ‘You’re in Bawdeswell?’ She knew of the village. It was about twenty miles from Wells. ‘I’m out with the dogs. It’s going to take me a while to drop them off and get to where you are.’

She waited for Rosie to respond, but there was just silence.

‘Rosie?’

Still nothing.

‘ROSIE?’

‘What? Yes, I’m here. I thought he had woken up.’

‘Rosie, if you’re in danger, I need to call the police.’

‘No police! Promise me, Hannah.’ Rosie sounded on the verge of tears and Hannah’s gut twisted, wondering what the hell kind of trouble she was in.

‘Okay, I won’t call them. I’ll be as quick as I can.’

‘Just hurry, okay? Message me when you get here and I’ll sneak out.’

All three dogs were looking at Hannah as the call ended and she hurried them homewards, grateful that they belonged to neighbours who were on her route. Normally she would stop to chat, but Rosie’s call had spooked her. Who the hell was she with and what had happened to her?

Wondering how wise an idea it was to show up at this man’s house alone, she called her ex-husband on the way to Bawdeswell.

She could hear the exasperation in Josh’s voice the moment Rosie’s name was mentioned.

‘You know this is going to be another case of cry wolf, don’t you, Han?’

‘She sounded really upset.’

‘Of course she did. She plays you like a fiddle every time.’

There had never been any love lost between Rosie and Josh, even though they were two of the closest people in Hannah’s life. Josh thought Rosie was a drama queen, while Rosie couldn’t understand why Hannah kept him around. ‘Ex should mean ex, as in good riddance,’ she had said on more than one occasion.

Truth was, Hannah and Josh worked better as friends than as husband and wife. Their marriage had been short-lived, over when they were still in their mid-twenties, and it wasn’t until they were divorced that they really started to understand one another. Hannah still loved him, but she wasn’t in love with him, and this last eight years as friends, Josh Cole had become more like the brother she had never had.

He might have had his doubts about Rosie’s emergency, but he still insisted Hannah call him when she arrived at the address. As she pulled off the road and into the driveway of the house that she had nearly missed due to the high hedgerows of the narrow twisting country lane, she was glad he had. Part of her wondered as she tapped his name into her phone whether she should be ignoring Rosie’s wishes and calling the police anyway.

‘Are you there yet?’

‘I’ve just arrived. Josh, this place is in the middle of nowhere. What if she really is in trouble?’

‘Then call the police.’

‘I can’t. She made me promise I wouldn’t.’

There was silence on the line and then she heard him sigh. ‘I think you have your answer. If Rosie was really in trouble, she wouldn’t stop you calling them. In fact, she would have called them herself instead of dragging you out there.’

Hannah wanted to stick up for her friend, but deep down she knew Josh had a point. She agreed she would call him back again, once she knew Rosie was okay.

‘And promise me you won’t get out of the car.’

Hannah bit down on the urge to tell him he was an idiot for thinking she would even consider it. Honestly, though, it was comforting to know he had her back. Instead, she assured him she would stay in the car, then ended the call before firing a quick message to Rosie.

I’m here.

She decided it was safest to leave the engine running and tapped her fingers nervously on the steering wheel, eyes on the house, watching for Rosie. The walls had been rendered in a creamy yellow. It looked well maintained and to the side of the property was a black BMW.

Nice house, nice car, but really it meant nothing. Bad people could own nice things.

She glanced at her phone, saw her message had been read, but there was still no sign of her friend.

Rosie had said she would be waiting for her to make contact. So where the hell was she?

2

A couple more minutes passed and Hannah was on the verge of calling the police when Rosie finally appeared.

She was dressed in a tight-fitting, black dress, one that barely covered her arse and showed off her slender legs, and her dark hair was pulled back in a messy knot. A typical Rosie party outfit.

Hannah wound the window down. ‘Are you okay?’

She had expected Rosie to be distressed, but she didn’t appear concerned. The only sign of her anxiety came after she carefully shut the door behind her.

It had barely closed when it swung open again and a tall, chiselled man stepped out, wearing just a pair of joggers and a confused frown on his face as he followed her to the car. ‘Rosie? Are you leaving?’

Rosie glanced at Hannah, shooting her a panicked look that warned her to play along, and Hannah’s hackles rose as her friend turned back to the man and reached up for a kiss.

That distracted him momentarily, but his attention was soon on Hannah. ‘Who’s this?’

‘This is my friend, Hannah. Hannah, meet Doug.’

Hannah couldn’t bring herself to speak. Instead she nodded curtly.

‘Hi.’ Doug still looked confused, understandably so. ‘How did you know Rosie was here?’

‘I forgot, Hannah has a… thing we have to go to,’ Rosie answered quickly, before Hannah could tell him the truth.

‘A thing?’ As he glanced between the pair of them, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. He seemed pleasant enough, but Hannah could hear the edge in his tone.

‘Yeah.’

‘But—’

‘So it was lovely meeting you and thank you for last night, but we need to go.’

‘I was going to make you breakfast.’

‘We can do that another time. Call me.’

Rosie was already hurrying around the car and climbing into the passenger seat.

‘You never gave me your numb—’

The door slammed shut, cutting off the end of Doug’s sentence.

‘Seriously, Rosie?’ Hannah hissed as she wound her window up. ‘I thought you were in danger.’

‘Go. I’ll explain on the way back.’

Josh had warned her, but Hannah hadn’t listened. She slammed the gearstick into reverse, knowing she only had herself to blame.

‘You’re mad at me,’ Rosie said, as Hannah backed out of the drive. Doug was standing on the front step watching them, a frown now on his face.

‘I thought you were in trouble. I nearly called the police.’

‘I never said I was in trouble. You assumed I was.’

‘Are you surprised? You let me think you were. I thought it was an emergency.’

‘Well it was.’ Rosie’s tone was turning petulant. ‘I didn’t want to be there. I should never have gone home with him.’

‘So why did you?’ Hannah asked, exasperated.

‘Last night, it seemed like a good idea, but then I woke up in his bed this morning and I panicked. You know what I’m like when I’ve had a few drinks. My judgement goes out of the window and I can’t help myself.’

‘Maybe you should give the alcohol a break then.’

‘Crikey, Hannah. You’re not my mother.’

‘I’m not trying to be.’ Hannah bit her tongue, resisting the urge to point out that she had just come and picked Rosie up at her insistence. Exactly the sort of thing a mother would do.

‘Well, can you stop laying into me please. My head is pounding.’

Serves you right. She didn’t say the words aloud, knowing what Rosie was like when she was in one of these moods. There would be no rationalising with her. Her friend could be the sweetest, kindest, and most thoughtful person, but she also had a self-destruct button.

Not good when there were a lot of people out there willing to take advantage of her.

She didn’t even bother to ask where Rosie had met Doug or why she was out drinking heavily on a Sunday night. It was a regular occurrence with Rosie and the bars in Norwich were a home away from home for her. The only thing that ever differed were the men she hooked up with.

‘Are you working today?’ she asked instead, assuming she was taking Rosie back to Norwich.

She used the word ‘working’ loosely. As an only child who had lost both parents, Rosie didn’t want for money. Her father had invested wisely, while her grandmother, who had died a few years later, had been stinking rich. The money Rosie had inherited had left her more than comfortable.

Still, she liked to keep herself busy and it was hard to keep up with her schedule as the jobs she did weren’t regular. Her résumé listed her first and foremost as an actress, though most of the projects she had worked on had never been released. Of the ones that had, she had played a dead body, had a cameo role in Hollyoaks, plus a couple of one-line parts in low-budget films. Then there was the modelling, and her YouTube channel, which was probably her biggest success. She endorsed beauty products, tested out the latest fads, and preached a healthy lifestyle to her subscribers that Hannah knew she didn’t follow herself. Rosie was good at persuading people. She had the gift of the gab when it came to getting companies to send her freebies and her bubbly personality shone through, ensuring she came across as likeable to her many followers.

She also knew how to work the circuit, flitting back and forth between Norfolk and London, getting to know every other Z-list celebrity, blogger, and vlogger out there, as well as a few bigger hitters.

Her life was a world away from Hannah’s, and Hannah had zero interest in the parties and events Rosie tried to lure her to. On paper, the two women were opposites, but their childhood ties were strong and Hannah was one of very few people Rosie could be her true self with.

‘Nothing in the diary, thank God. Do you fancy grabbing an early lunch? We could try that new burger place that’s opened and maybe go for a facial afterwards.’

‘Sorry, I have work to do.’

Rosie pouted. ‘You’re no fun.’

‘You’re welcome to come over. The job I’m working on shouldn’t take too long to finish.’

‘I think I’m just going to slob around my flat, order in junk food, and watch movies,’ Rosie decided. ‘And I am never drinking again.’

‘Of course not,’ Hannah agreed dryly. It was only Monday, but there was no waiting for the weekend for Rosie, and they both knew she would open a bottle of wine early evening, and that she would probably end up heading out again into Norwich to one of the bars. She couldn’t seem to help herself.

And once Rosie was drunk, her guard lowered and she made herself vulnerable. She had no pause button when it came to alcohol and drugs. Doug had seemed like an okay guy, but one day Rosie was going to go home with the wrong person. That scared Hannah half to death and she tried again to persuade Rosie to stay with her.

‘You can slob at mine. Have a bath or a nap. Make yourself feel human again. Then when I’ve finished, we can order takeout and have a catch up.’

Rosie mulled the idea over, a slight frown on her pretty face, and Hannah thought she was going to say no. ‘I guess that would be nice. You’ll need to lend me some slob-out clothes.’

‘Of course.’

As Hannah turned the car around and headed back towards the coast, her phone started ringing.

Rosie rolled her eyes as Josh’s name flashed up on the dashboard. ‘What does he want?’

Damn it. Hannah had promised to call him back. ‘He was worried about you.’

‘You told him? Seriously, Hannah. What you do, and definitely what I do, it’s none of his business.’

‘You’re too harsh on him. He’s a good guy. And he cares.’

‘Guess you’d better answer it then,’ Rosie huffed.

‘I’ll call him back,’ Hannah said, as the phone cut to voicemail. If she took the call now, it would have to be on loudspeaker and she didn’t want Rosie and Josh to start sniping at each other.

Rosie was a little subdued the rest of the drive home, giving mostly monosyllabic answers, and Hannah suspected she was still stewing over the call to Josh, though she looked pale, so maybe her hangover had really kicked in.

After they arrived back at Hannah’s building, she marched ahead, going straight for the lift.

‘It’s not working,’ Hannah informed her.

That was met with a sigh. ‘Again? I don’t know why you insist on keeping this place. You know it’s probably worth a fortune because of the location. You could move back to Norwich and buy something newer and at least twice the size. You’d probably have money left over too.’

Yes, okay, she could, and it was something she had briefly considered, but the location was important. Hannah loved living in Wells and she would never be able to afford anywhere else here, even if she got top whack for her flat. ‘I like it here,’ she said simply, following Rosie up the stairs.

‘I’m sure you’d like it somewhere else too if you’d stop being so stubborn.’

‘This place has its charms.’

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