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She felt her throat dry up as she tried to speak. ‘Footsteps. I’m sure of it. Jesus, Assumpta, there’s someone out there.’

‘You’re imagining things. I’ve put the wind up you with my story. There are no ghosts. Just haunted memories.’

A high-pitched sound came from the kitchen. Imelda jumped again, her hands clutched to her chest. ‘Did you hear that?’

‘Water’s boiled?’

She sighed and peered out into the blackness of the night. All was quiet again. What had she heard? She was crazy to rent in such a remote place. Halfway down a hill, the ocean in the distance. The location had played to her romantic and whimsical nature, but now she was regretting her decision. Another shadow moved. Was it just the branch of a tree swaying before it returned to stillness?

‘I’m sure there’s someone out there.’ She could not rid herself of the anxiety in her chest.

‘You’re so jumpy. I’ll go take a look.’ Assumpta stood, but fell back onto the chair with a giggle. ‘Gosh, I think I’m drunk. Might be time for that coffee. Here, take my bag, there’s a packet of biscuits in it somewhere.’

Imelda stood staring out for another moment. ‘Must be my imagination.’

She didn’t believe it was all imagination, but she didn’t fancy going outside to look around in the pitch dark. They were safe inside, weren’t they?

Picking up Assumpta’s bag, she switched off her recording equipment and put the USB in her jeans pocket before returning to the kitchen. She could not shake off her anxiety as she switched on the kettle once more.

That was when she heard the front door burst inwards and Assumpta scream.

2

RAGMULLIN

MONDAY

Her early-morning run before work was turning into a nightmare for Maura Carroll. She grimaced as she thundered along the narrow footpath, her feet hurting. Her runners needed to be replaced, though she was hoping to get to pay day. That meant she’d have to last until June thirtieth.

‘Damn,’ she muttered under her breath.

She paused at the end of the road, a hundred metres or so past the fruit and veg shop, one of only a few retailers in the area. A stone had somehow worked its way in through the sole to irritate her foot.

Leaning on the narrow bridge, she wiggled her foot out of the runner and shook the stone into the River Brosna below. Something caught her eye in the reeds by the riverbank. Was that hair? Her heart almost stopped as she peered over to get a better view.

‘What the…? Oh my God!’ She recoiled in horror and backed out onto the road, narrowly missing a car.

A body. No! It couldn’t be. She’d been running too hard, that was all. She was imagining it. She had to be. Still, she had to look again.

She inched forward and forced herself to gaze downwards, hand clasped to her mouth.

‘Shit, oh God. No!’

She tried to concentrate on her breathing so as not to melt into a full-blown panic attack. What was she to do? She worked at the hospital, but her job was in administration, not as a medical professional. She knew basic CPR, but this person was way past saving. She failed at controlling her breaths, and they came out in quick, hysterical bursts.

‘Help! Oh my good Lord, help!’

Had she even uttered the words? She didn’t need divine intervention. She needed someone to help, but there didn’t seem to be anyone else in the vicinity. The solitary car that had passed her was in the distance up the road. The fruit shop was not yet open. What was she supposed to do?

Was there a correct procedure to follow? Perhaps she should go down into the reeds and check for a pulse?

No. No way was she going anywhere near the body. She’d probably slip down the bank and drown. Stupid thought. Even though the river was fast-flowing, it didn’t look too deep. No, she needed to call the emergency services.

Fumbling her phone out of the arm strap she used while running, she almost let it drop over the bridge into the water below. It took her another minute to remember her PIN, such was the shock and fright surging through her body. Eventually she tapped in the 999 number and gave the details. She realised she was almost screaming.

A flock of birds rose as one from the trees lining the bank on the opposite side, their crowing louder than her shrieks.

It took just six minutes for the first of the emergency services to arrive at the scene. In those waiting minutes Maura had sat on the footpath kerb, phone in hand, not knowing what to do. Sit and wait, that was all she was able to do anyhow.