A diffused beam of light from Bert's issued lantern stabbed at the darkness bouncing off pavement, buildings, and the sky. His eyes narrowed and his face scrunched as he tried to make sense of shapes in the darkness. It could also be the smoke and heat from the lantern's chimney that irritated his nose. Was this the correct address? Had that woman got it wrong? This place looked long abandoned, with no outward signs of use. It couldn't hurt to have a quick look round.

Bert shoved the gate open and waded through the tall grass and shrubbery, his tiny lamp waving limply at the gloomy edifice. He jerked to a stop as his truncheon caught in a large bush, and Bert wrestled his equipment free. Bert continued exploring around the exterior of home, squinting, trying to determine what was building, what was sky, and there it was. A thin golden halo of orange light, someone was in there.