‘I love old houses, that’s so sad. Would you have lived there, if you could, Annie?’
‘I’ve never really thought about it, probably, but some of them needed a lot of work and even more money to bring them back to life. Natalie’s husband is a property developer, he has the resources, builders and money to invest.’
Annie directed Morgan to Hellsfield Road. The name was enough to give Morgan the creeps. She slowed the car along the narrow, overgrown, winding country road until just past the bend, when a pair of huge limestone gateposts appeared, and a plaque on one read ‘Hellsfield Hall’. The ornate rusted gates were pushed open, so Morgan drove in slowly along the narrow drive.
If Morgan had garden envy at the Lawsons’, she didn’t know what she felt now. Imagine owning your own woodland. That would be unbelievable, she’d build Ettie a house inside of them so she could be near to her and…the car rounded a bend, stopping all thoughts in her tracks as the house appeared from nowhere, looming in the background. It was…how would Morgan describe it? Creepy, monstrous, something that would look right at home in a season ofAmerican Horror Story.
‘Wow.’
Annie laughed. ‘Wow indeed, it takes some getting used to, doesn’t it?’
Morgan turned off the engine and jumped out of the car. It was like all her nightmares and bad dreams rolled into one. No wonder Natalie didn’t feel comfortable in here on her own. Annie pressed the video doorbell that looked out of place on the wall next to the huge arched wooden door.
‘Annie, you’re early.’
‘Sorry, my friend, Morgan, could only come now, is it okay?’
‘Yes, on my way.’
It seemed like forever as they waited for Natalie to open the front door, and when she finally did she stared at Morgan.
Annie smiled. ‘This is—’
‘Detective Constable Morgan Brookes, why are you here? I don’t need a police officer.’
Annie looked confused. ‘Do you two know each other?’
Morgan shook her head. She’d never seen this woman before.
‘I read the papers; I’ve followed some of your cases. Why are you here?’
Annie smiled at Natalie. ‘It might be better if we come in and have a chat.’
‘Of course, forgive me, where are my manners? Sorry, I’m a bit out of sorts today, it’s not like me.’
They followed her inside, to the entrance hall. Morgan was last, turning to close the door behind them. It was surprisingly light and airy inside. She’d been expecting it to be all dark wood, panelling, rich coloured carpets, but everything was the complete opposite.
Natalie led them into a lounge with sofas big enough to hold at least eight people on each.
‘Take a seat, would you like a drink?’
Both Annie and Morgan shook their heads.
‘Natalie, why don’t you tell Morgan what you were telling me earlier.’
Natalie looked as if she’d rather not speak another word, but she nodded.
‘You’re going to think I’m mad and please don’t tell anyone. Jasper would be furious if he heard me talking like this.’
‘I wouldn’t tell a soul, what you say here is between the three of us.’
‘Good, that’s good. I appreciate that, Morgan, I really do. It’s so stupid really but you can see how big this place is, and more often than not I’m rattling around in here on my own. Jasper is never here; my daughter, Lexie, would rather be anywhere else, and I can’t say that I blame her. The internet is crap and I think it drives her mad. You know what kids are like, they can’t live without bloody TikTok these days.’
‘This is a big house for one person to spend their time in, it’s beautiful though.’
‘Oh, downstairs is gorgeous, I love it. Jasper, despite all his faults, did a wonderful job with it. The problem is when you go upstairs to the first and second floors, actually I don’t even go up to the second floor, it scares the shit out of me.’
It was Annie who asked. ‘How does it scare you, the feel of the place, sounds, smells?’
