The wooden floor creaked under Ed’s heavy feet as he surveyed each room. Naomi followed him down the long, wide corridor which led them to the rest of the house. She’d never lived in a bungalow before. It felt strange, having all the rooms on the same floor. The kitchen was straight ahead, its door closed. Another door led them to the expansive living room and there was a bedroom to the right. On the left was the master bedroom, with a small double bedroom next to it. She had earmarked the fourth bedroom as a study, a place where she could research the Harper case. The bathroom was compact, but they had room to extend. It was modest, given Ed’s income, but had potential to grow. Naomi could imagine raising a baby of their own here one day. Perhaps that was what they needed to make their unit complete.

‘I’ll grab the suitcases,’ Ed said, after his brief tour of the house.

‘Wait,’ Naomi said, reaching for his arm. ‘What’s the verdict?’

‘You did good,’ he said, still smiling. ‘We’ll be happy here.’

Naomi exhaled a sigh of relief. Her husband had grown up in the wilds of Scotland. He could see beyond the cobwebs and dust. He’d appreciate the peace, if nothing else.

‘I’ll see if I can find a kettle,’ she said. ‘There’re logs in the hearth, we can light a fire, then make space for our furniture.’

‘Aye, I’m fair gasping for a cuppa, but stay where you are until I get back.’ Ed gave her a wink before leaving to get the bags. Naomi was used to his little surprises.

What had he planned now?

She cast her eyes around the partly furnished room, fighting back a shudder. The room was darker than it should have been for early evening, and the low ceilings and wooden beams gave it a closed-in feel. The walls would need decorating as the paint was beginning to peel, but the wooden floors were original so they could stay. Lost in thought, she jumped at the sight of Morgan standing in the doorway, arms folded, features tight. Her ebony hair and black lipstick made her skin appear chalk-white.

‘There’s no Wi-Fi and my phone signal’s shit.’ She pouted, speaking in a voice which suggested that Naomi had committed a criminal act.

‘It’ll all be sorted by tomorrow,’ Naomi replied, letting the swear word go. ‘You can manage one night without it, can’t you?’ She had gone to great pains to ensure it would be in place the next day, along with satellite TV. But Morgan had just moved into her new home – surely social media could wait for a bit?