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First published in Great Britain by Harper 2017
Copyright © Cressida McLaughlin 2017
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2017
Cover illustration © Alice Stevenson
Cressida McLaughlin asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Ebook Edition © February 2017 ISBN: 9780008219253
Version 2017-01-26
Table of Contents
‘Maybe if we back off a bit, he’ll decide to come out of his own accord?’
The voice was coming from the top of the stairs, and Robin Brennan paused at the bottom of them, frowning. It sounded like Mrs Barker, one of the guests who had checked into the Campion Bay Guesthouse the day before – Robin’s first day running the renovated seaside bed and breakfast in the picturesque Dorset town.
‘But we tried that for ages,’ said a younger voice. ‘I think he’s in for the long haul, unless we can actually get to him.’ Robin thought that was Catriona, who was staying in Rockpool, the sea-themed room with the aquarium wall, with her boyfriend, Neil. He was the one who spoke next.
‘I don’t see how we’re going to do that, unless anyone happens to have any chicken or prawns on them? Shit, what are we going to say to Robin?’
‘I’m sure by the time she returns it will all be resolved,’ Mrs Barker said, though her tone wasn’t very convincing.
Unable to restrain her curiosity any longer, Robin dumped her shopping bags on the floor, hung her coat on the hook in the hall and climbed the stairs to the first floor. She knocked on the door, which was already wide open, her movements slowing as she took in the scene in front of her.
All three of her guests were crouched on the floor around the bed; Catriona looked like she was in the process of crawling underneath it, and the top of the chest of drawers and floor surrounding it was a mess of sugar, teabags and make-up. It looked like there had been a mini explosion in the room, and the occupants were trying to retrieve something vital from where it had landed, just out of reach.
‘Hello?’ she asked. ‘Is everything OK? I heard voices and I wondered if I could be of any help?’
Neil turned towards her, his eyes widening in alarm. ‘We’ve got a bit of an issue.’
‘Easily solvable, I’m sure,’ Mrs Barker quickly added, putting her weight on the duvet cover and pulling herself up to standing.
‘It’s my fault,’ Catriona said, her voice muffled. ‘I left the door open and when I came out of the bathroom, Eclipse was climbing up there.’ She gestured forlornly at the huge tropical fish tank set in the wall, and Robin could just make out scratches in the turquoise paintwork alongside it.
‘Ah,’ she said, pressing her lips together.
‘And then when Catriona tried to get him off,’ Neil said, ‘he jumped out of her arms, bounced across the chest of drawers and lodged himself under the bed. Now none of us can reach him.’
‘I promise we’ll pay for any damages,’ Catriona rushed. ‘Nothing looks broken, I think it’s just the paint.’
Robin crouched next to Catriona and put a hand on her shoulder. ‘He didn’t scratch you, did he?’
Catriona shook her head sheepishly.
‘Then no damage done,’ Robin said softly. ‘Eclipse is my responsibility. He’s curious and he’s not going to ignore a huge tank of fish when he discovers it. It’s not up to you to keep the door closed. As long as you’re OK, and none of your things have been broken, then that’s the main thing.’
Catriona visibly relaxed, and Neil sighed behind her.
‘So all that remains,’ Mrs Barker said, ‘is to work out how to get your kitten out from under the bed.’
‘I’m pretty sure I can solve that one. Give me a moment.’ Robin squeezed Neil’s arm reassuringly as she left the room and set off down the stairs, silently berating herself for letting her guests get in that situation. She didn’t know how she could stop Eclipse exploring when the bedroom doors were open; she’d have to be stricter about where he could