Page 121 of Worse Than Murder

‘I’m sure this place will look charming when it’s finished,’ I say, trying to make light of my mental battle.

Philip is walking around the vast space. ‘I just… I can’t understand why the intruder came down here when there’s nothing here. There’s nothing for him to take, and he left nothing.’

I draw in a deep, shaky breath. ‘Is there any chance of some decent lighting down here?’ I’d feel better if I could see the far wall, at least. The total darkness is making me feel more penned in than I really am.

‘I’ve got one of the arc lights upstairs in the storage room. Will that do?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’ll go up and?—’

‘I’ll go,’ I interrupt. I turn and scramble back up the stairs. I can’t leave the basement fast enough.

I find the light with ease and also a long extension cable. I plug it in and bring it down with me. Immediately, the room is transformed as it’s lit up with a brilliant white light. I feel instantly better and can breathe now I can fully see the dimensions of the room.

‘It’s bigger than I thought.’

‘I know. It’ll make a great wine-tasting space.’

Philip continues to talk, to share his vision, while I head for the back wall, the wall that Carl said will make a picture window overlooking the lake. I press the palm of my hand flat against the cold brick. I look up to the corner. My eye travels along the ceiling and down the other side.

‘Have you had anyone down here?’

‘Sorry?’

‘Have you had any builders or anyone down here?’

‘Not yet, no. I’ve spoken to Warren in the village. He was going to come down last week and measure it, but the storm has made him very busy with repairs. Why?’

‘This is a false wall.’

‘What?’

‘This back wall is false.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘When you’re building a wall, the bricks dovetail in the corners to add strength and stop them from falling over. These don’t do that. Look.’

Philip looks up into the corner and spots the bricks sitting perfectly in a row.

‘Oh yes. How do you know that?’

‘My husband was an architect. He also very nearly knocked down our house when he was doing the renovations. I made sure I knew exactly what he was doing after that. Someone has built a wall in front of the original wall.’

‘Why would they do that?’

‘I’ve no idea.’

‘You mean, behind there is a recess of some kind?’

‘Possibly. I don’t know how big it is. You’d need to measure the inside, then the outside, and you’d be able to calculate your discrepancy.’

‘It can’t be that big or I would have noticed before now.’

‘True.’

‘Why would anyone want to put up a false wall? I mean, what could be behind there?’