I was nearing the church door when something made me stop

There was time for a drink before the play. We pushed our way into the lounge and took the last free table. Everyone was in high spirits, especially the reporters.

“I can’t believe it,” Mike was saying. “That Marcellus and Aaron are guilty?” I said.

“That it took your ace detective this long to bring them in.”

“What do you mean, ‘this long’?”

Mike said nothing, but a smile flickered on his lips. “Can we talk about something else?”

He turned to Liz. “So how are the twins? You were ages at the computer.”

Liz was pale. “Lucy’s not feeling terribly well. She’s been throwing up all day. Siobhan thinks it’s something she ate.

“I’m sure it’s not really serious but I’ve given her the Excelsior’s number just in case. My phone gets no reception here, I’m afraid.”

“We should make our flight tomorrow,” he said reassuringly. “Leo sounded hopeful we’ll be getting our passports back.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” she said, with feeling. Mike raised his glass. “Well then, here’s to the Bard.”

Serious

“Listen, how about a last look at the aurora?” I said, glancing from one to the other.

“Are you serious?” His voice grew hard. “You’re not going on that river, Maggie.”

“No, not the river. The light from the Ice Theatre will wash everything out.”

He lowered his glass. “Where, then?”

“The only place far enough away from illumination is the church. The bell tower. The view will be to die for.” I looked pointedly at Liz. “So who’s coming?”

She laughed. “I give in, Mags. You’ve been droning on about this aurora all week.

“I absolutely have to see what the fuss is all about. You can count me in.”

Mike was looking at me strangely. “You can count me out.”

Liz leant into him. “Oh, come on, Mike. Please.” “I’m going to see Macbeth.”

“You mean the Scottish play?” I said. “Now you’ve brought us bad luck.”

“There’ll be time for both, you know,” Liz said pleadingly. “We’ll only stay out half an hour. Then we’ll go straight to the theatre. If we leave now, we won’t miss much.”

“It’s not that.” He hesitated. “I’m no good up towers. I get vertigo.”

It was a strange remark from someone who’d been ice climbing. But I let it go.

He looked into his beer. “You girls have fun. But mind yourself up there.”

I glanced at my watch. It was 8.50pm.

“We’ll need hot showers first, Mags,” Liz said, getting to her feet. “It’ll be perishing up there. I’ll meet you in the foyer, shall I?” She sounded excited. I pushed back my chair, gulping my drink. Mike laid a hand on my arm. “It’s not the height, Maggie.” He seemed anxious I hear him out. “It’s the tower, the enclosed space.”

I was surprised at this admission of weakness. “We all have our phobias, Mike,” I said, smiling. “I’m no good underwater, but you already know that.” He seemed grateful for my flippant remark. “Macbeth’s about to start,” I said. “I mean, the Scottish play.”

In the Excelsior, I took a shower, running the water as hot as I could bear until my skin glowed red.

It was now nearly 9.30pm. If we hurried, we’d be at the church by 10.

Puzzled

The receptionist with the glasses was deep in another Mills & Boon. He looked up at the sound of my footsteps.

“Are you wanting to see the play? It began half an hour ago, I’m afraid.”

“We’re going to the church.”

“The church?” He looked puzzled.

“To watch the aurora from the tower.”

His eyes grew wide behind the lenses. “I can’t remember the last time anyone climbed up there,” he said slowly. “It’s a long walk. Are you sure you want to go?”

“It’ll be our last chance. We’re flying home tomorrow. Could you lend me a torch?” I added, remembering the darkness in the tower.

He opened a cupboard and removed a heavy rubber torch.

After checking it was working, he handed it to me without a word. I nodded my thanks.

“Ah, here is your friend, Miss Stewart.”

Liz was marching down the corridor, drawing on her gloves. “Ready?” she said, smiling.

As we were leaving, the manager appeared, waving a hand in the direction of his office.

“Miss Hallam, there is a phone call for you,” he said. She stopped at the door. “It must be Lucy.”

“I’ll wait here, Liz. Or should I come with you?”

“No, no, it’s fine.” She hesitated. “Look, Mags, do go on and I’ll catch you up. I really don’t think it’s serious. Children are always being sick. Awful, but there you are.”

She saw the look of doubt on my face. “Go on, go on, or you’ll miss it.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’ll be along as soon as I can. Or I’ll meet you up there.” She disappeared with the manager.

I hesitated for only a second, then left the building, conscious of the receptionist’s accusing stare.

The damp air was filled with the scent of wood smoke. I studied the sky. It was cloudless and there was no moon.

The night gods were smiling on me.

I slithered down the path between the statues and took the road to the church. Ice was forming and I had to watch where I trod.

Despite taking care, I lost my footing a couple of times and slipped, crashing painfully on to my side.

Eventually, the streetlights thinned out. At the edge of the cluster of houses, I switched on the torch.

The yellow cone of light pushed back the darkness, illuminating the road ahead.

Reflection

I swung round, moving the torch in a wide arc, catching the snow-covered trees in the beam.

I thought I saw an answering flash from the forest but it must have been a reflection.

I trudged on, the only sound, my feet crackling on the ice.

I took the bend in the road. There in the distance were the church and tower, looking eerie in the light of the torch.

The ground here was almost free of ice, as the surrounding forest gave a measure of shelter.

I was nearing the church door when something made me stop. It wasn’t a sound, more a feeling that someone, or something, was close by.

It couldn’t be Liz, I’d have heard her. And she’d have seen the torch and called to me. I ran the beam over the entrance, even moving it up the walls, but there was nothing.

I pulled the wrought-iron ring, bracing myself for the loud creak, but the door swung open silently.

More tomorrow.

Icehotel, available on Amazon Kindle, is Hania Allen’s debut novel. Her second book, The Polish Detective (Constable, £8.99), is the first in her new series featuring DS Dania Gorska and is set in Dundee.