But Connie was adamant. ‘I definitely heard footsteps. I don’t think you should be sleeping here alone.’

‘I’m not,’ Naomi countered. ‘Morgan is here.’

‘And that’s meant to make me feel better? That girl has serial-killer eyes.’

A cackle of laughter escaped Naomi’s lips. ‘You are such a drama queen, honestly. Don’t you remember what it’s like, being a teenager? All slamming doors and teenage angst?’ She checked her watch. She would give Morgan an hour before peeping in on her. Morgan was nocturnal, but that would all change when she started school. Connie was right, though; Naomi had felt a lingering sense of unease. She’d had a creeping feeling of being watched ever since she got here. She masked her emotions with a smile. ‘It’s a lovely house, really. Just plays with your imagination, knowing what happened here. You probably wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t told you.’

‘That’s true enough.’ Connie relaxed a little. ‘I spent half the night trying to come up with theories. How well did they search this place for bodies? And the grounds?’ She chased the last of her pancake around the plate.

Naomi delivered a sigh of relief, glad the subject was back on the Harpers. ‘The local sergeant, Lloyd Thomas, oversaw everything personally. He was very involved in the case.’

‘All the same . . . you should get one of those Ring doorbells. You can get CCTV inside too.’

‘The Wi-Fi signal isn’t strong enough. The trees block everything out.’ Naomi had already looked into it. ‘Ed’s going to install an all-singing all-dancing security system when he gets home.’

‘Good.’ Her sister hopped off the barstool and took her plate to the sink. ‘Get some indoor cameras while you’re at it. I don’t like leaving you like this.’

‘I’ll be fine.’ Naomi smiled. ‘Ed will be home by tonight.’

‘Well, far be it from me to come between the lovebirds . . .’ Connie was interrupted by the ring of Naomi’s phone.

‘Ed,’ Naomi said, pleased to hear from him. ‘How’s it going? Any news?’

‘I’m afraid not,’ he said, a backdrop of voices behind him. ‘The cops have taken my report but I dinnae think they’ll be spending much time on it.’ His Scottish accent had strengthened since returning to his home town.

‘Oh, that’s a shame,’ Naomi replied. She was hoping he’d be done, dusted and on his way back by now. ‘Where are you? Seems noisy.’

‘Having breakfast in the hotel,’ Ed replied. ‘I thought I’d grab a bite here, then put some more feelers out. I’ve spoken to her neighbours, nobody’s seen anything. I’ve checked the house too. Nothin’ but mice scurrying around. Everything all right your end?’