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Chapter 7
"Are you all right, my dear?" The official face appeared friendly.
"Yes officer. I was just going to walk home. I'm staying at the holiday cottage down the road; the one with the water wheel."
"I'm going that way so I'll give you a bit of company if you like. You can't be too careful these days."
"I'm very grateful, " said Alice. "I understand there was a tragedy at the house recently. Have you caught anyone yet?"
"It's a remote location. Nobody was around at the time. There's no knowing why anybody would want to do that sort of thing." The policeman's voice was deep, reassuring ... and non-committal.
"Was she ... "
"I don't think I can give you any more information than that. It's still under investigation, my dear."
They walked along the quiet road in silence. The policeman's torch carved a swathe of light through the darkness. The trees formed a ceiling above that made the road feel like the aisle of a cathedral. In the distance ahead between the branch-covered canopy and the dark landscape gleamed the night blue sky.
"Here you are, my dear," said the policeman holding the gate open for her. "Just a tip, you might like to leave a light on at all times to show you're in the house, even if you're not. Some kids have got used to playing in the garden. They treat it as their own. Leaving the light on might keep them away - if anything can."
"I'll bear that in mind, officer."
"There's no need to be formal around here - call me Hugo, everyone else does!"
Alice smiled her thanks and went to unlock the door."
On her way to bed, she went to draw the curtains but found there weren't any. It was, after all, a minimum requirement in a holiday cottage, she thought crossly.
The pyjamas she held in her hand were a pair of her husbands favourite. She'd left a note under his pillow:
'I borrowed you pyjamas in case it's cold where I'm going. Unfortunately your others are in the wash so you'll have to sleep with nothing on ... but I'll be nice and warm ...thinking of you. Love Alice.'
There was a single bright light enclosed in an austere lampshade in the centre of the room. It made the room feel like a goldfish bowl. Tutting to herself, Alice switched the light off and undressed by the dim light of the moon.
Outside seemed calm. There was the sound of the river flowing and the occasional scream of a fox in the distance. Bright diamonds of light glittered on the sides of the valley from other dwellings. They looked like circling aircraft coming in to land at an airport, except they didn't move.
Alice climbed into her husband's pyjamas, decided the country air was getting to her and wearily padded over to the bed. As she felt the cool cotton sheets against her skin, she fell into a deep sleep.
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