Finally, our heroes reached the top of the hill just as the rain began to lash down.

“This place brings back fond memories,” began Sid. “Playing in the garden, looking for frogs in that pond. And look,” he said, pointing out to sea, “from here on a clear day you can see for miles. Oh, I used to love that. My dad had a pair of binoculars, and I would sit for hours and watch all the navy ships going back and forth from Portsmouth Harbour. Happy days.”

“They sound it.”

“They were. Shame Seaview Towers is all closed down now. Still, it’s good news for us, being on the run! Right! I’d better stop jabbering on! We need to get shelter from the storm. Let’s force one of those windows open.”

The boy shook his head. “There might be someone in there.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. An old hobo or someone.”

“There’s no one in there!”

“I say let’s knock on the door just in case anyone is at home.”

“All right! All right!” conceded Sid. “Have it your way! Let’s knock on the door.”

The rain was washing away cobwebs that looked as if they’d been there for years. In the centre of the front door was a rusty old knocker.

Sid sighed and banged it.

RAT! TAT! TAT!

Nothing.

“See, no one’s at home!” said the man.

Eric knocked on the door again.

RAT! TAT! TAT!

“Nothing! Come on, let’s force open a window!”

“Shush!” shushed the boy.

“What?”

Despite the sound of the rain falling, Eric was certain he could hear footsteps on the other side of the door.

“There’s someone inside! I swear!”

“Nonsense!” Sid shook his head, but bent down to put his ear to the letterbox. He nodded his head. The boy was right!

Eric gulped in fear.

“GULP!”

It was hard to tell how many people were in there, but it was definitely more than one, as the footsteps echoed from different sides of the building.

SHUNT! SHUNT! SHUNT!

The next sound was that of locks being unlocked.

CLICK! CLOCK! CLACK!

The front door opened just a sliver. A rusty old metal chain prevented it from going any further. Half the face of an elderly lady, her blonde hair and glamorous make-up perfectly in place, loomed in the crack.

“State your business!” she demanded.

There was a trace of a foreign accent, but it was hard to place it exactly.

“Oh, we, erm, just wondered if you had a room, please?” spluttered a shocked Sid.

“Seaview Towers is completely full! There are no vacancies here whatsoever!” she snapped.

“But we have nowhere else to go,” he pleaded.

“That is not my concern. You must leave at once! Do you hear me? At once!”

“Bertha!” hissed a voice from out of view.

“Yes, Helene?” replied the first woman.

“Come here this instant!”

There were two of them! And the one they hadn’t seen yet was definitely in charge!

The door was slammed in Sid and Eric’s faces.

BANG!

What sounded like a heated argument between the two went on for quite a while inside. It was hard for Sid or Eric to make out what was being said, as it didn’t sound as if they were speaking in English.

“Maybe we should make a run for it?” hissed Eric, unable to ignore the feeling of deep unease in his tummy.

“We’re stuck here,” replied Sid. He looked back over the little town of Bognor Regis being battered by the storm. “If we go back to London, then Gertrude here is a goner!”

Eric had a peep into the pram. The sleeping beauty was still sleeping beautifully.

“ZZZZ! ZZZZ! ZZZZ!”

The boy smiled at the sight, before a sense of dread came over him. “But this place, Uncle Sid… It gives me the…”

But, sooner than Eric could say “willies”, the chain on the door was hurriedly taken off…

KERCHANG!

…and the door opened wide.

CREAK!

Now not one but two ladies were revealed in the doorway of Seaview Towers.

They were identical twins and made a startling sight. These two ancient faces, with bright pink lipstick, rouge on their cheeks and aquamarine eyeshadow painted over their eyelids, looked out of place in this dusty old ruin.

Their hair must have been dyed as it was the colour of gold. It made them look like film stars from the silent era. They wore matching cream blouses, each with a string of pearls round their neck. Black pencil skirts and patent-leather high-heeled shoes completed the look. They were by far the most glamorous pair in Bognor Regis.

“You are in luck!” chirped the second one. “We have just had a cancellation!”

Then in unison they both beckoned their guests inside with the words, “Welcome to Seaview Towers.”

Eric felt sick with nerves.

Something was very wrong here.