He reached the house and stole a quick look at the window where he thought he had seen the face before. The window was empty except for a little condensation on the bottom half, trickles of water running through it. That must have been all it was. Sam turned his key in the front door and stepped into the hallway. Immediately the house felt wrong. He crept towards the stairs, holding his breath, listening. A faint noise came from a room ahead of him and Sam's heart skipped a beat. A floorboard creaked under his foot and he immediately snatched his foot up, leaving it hanging in the air. A silent moment stretched out. Valerie stepped into the hallway. ‘Hello, dear’ she said. She looked at Sam standing on one leg, the door open behind him and she raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you alright?’ Sam lowered his leg sheepishly. ‘Come on,’ said Valerie, ‘Shut the door, it's getting chilly out there. Did you know we left the back door unlocked?’ She turned and went back the way she had come, leaving Sam to close the door and follow her.
