Through fear of potentially losing not one but two clients in the space of a few days, I didn't tell Rachel about the run in with Zak. Only ringing her to ask whether she had found a replace to cover my cleaning job at Grantley's. She hadn't, and from her tone of voice, it didn't seem like she was willing to, which meant it fell to me to clean his home.

However, something must have been in the Vegas air because Grantley, who is a textbook creep, was preoccupied with a train set, which meant I was able to do my job without having him leering at me the entire time I was there. I left his home with a spring in my step and a little hopeful that things were on the up. 

I also had Grantley's weakness and after sharing the information with Avery, she was able to find a train show which aired on TV the same time I do my cleaning. Meaning I had another way of making him disappear.

Joel hadn't made another appearance since I asked for my key back and Zak was- I don't know what had happened there. 

I was concerned, of course. His explosion was uncalled for and out the blue. I wasn't sure what was wrong with him or if he needed help. For all I know, he could have a split personality disorder. I didn't know enough about him to put myself in what could and probably was a dangerous situation. 

"This is one man that I cannot live without." I sigh sinking into Avery's couch.

"Amen to that sister. Amen." She replies clinking her wine glass to mine. 

"We all set to go again?" I ask. 

"Hell yes."

Grabbing the remote control, I hit play and watch as Alexander Skarsgard appears on the TV again, as the character Tarzan. The past two days, I have been staying at Avery's, to help with the twins and to get out of the apartment. 

I informed Mavis before I left, just in case she thought I had been kidnapped. She was high at the time, so the next morning, I posted a note through her door telling her to ring me if she needs anything as well as where I will be (again). 

For the first time, I experienced what Avery has to put up with when the girls have a bad night. There was cries, screams and endless relays of going up and down the stairs. It lasted all night until finally, at 5.30 am, the girls gave up their fight and went to sleep. 

We were almost half way through the film when the sound of feet reverberated through the floor. Avery grabbed the controller and paused it, determined not to miss a second of the topless hunk on the TV. 

Can't blame her for that.. 

"Mommy..."

Avery sighs and goes to set down her glass when I hop up. "I'll go. You've been up and down the stairs, perhaps I can settle them?"

"Please, be my guest." She answers. 

"Mommy is on the phone." I call back and head into the hallway to see Grace sat at the top of the stairs. "What's up?"

"I can't sleep. I'm not tired." She mumbles rubbing her eyes. 

"Let's get into bed and try." 

I can't help but smile as I walk up the stairs to see Grace yawning, for someone not tired, she soon shoots back into her room and clambers into her bed. 

Olivia is out of bed too, sat at the drawing table, scribbling furiously away at the paper, unaware I had even entered the room until I speak.  "Hey thing 1, what are you doing out of bed?"

She looks up at me sheepishly before getting up "Am I in trouble too?"

"Nobody is in trouble. Let's get back into bed though.." I say watching as she grabs the paper and haphazardly piles them together before leaving them on the table. 

Once Olivia is in, I tuck them both in, before I sit on the beanbag between their beds. The room is quiet and the small night light shines stars up onto their ceilings. 

"Stop it." Grace says making me look over at her. 

"What's up?" 

"Lizzy keeps pulling my feet." She frowns curling her legs up in bed.

Online opinions about imaginary friends have been varied, some parents acknowledge and others don't, some accept that their children have active imaginations and others try to correct them. I was undecided on what was best or how Avery wanted to handle it, so I did what I thought was best....

"Lizzy, can you please stop? The girls need their sleep. Play time is over." I say in a soft tone. 

Grace's eyes widen and I don't miss the worried look she gives Olivia. 

"What is wrong?" I ask Grace, reaching out and brushing her hair off her face.

"Lizzy doesn't like being told what to do. She gets angry."

"She does?" I ask finally breaking the barrier between them and this friend of theirs. "What else does she do?"

"Well she-"

"No Grace!" Olivia snaps. "Don't tell her. Lizzy will get mad!"

"Hey, hey." I soothe reaching my other hand out to Olivia who grips it with both of her hands. "Don't worry."

"But Auntie Riley, she is really mean."

I frown at this and push a little more "Why don't you tell me and I will see if I can help?"

The girls trade each other looks before they slowly open up.

"She knocks things over."

"She opens the draws and pulls out our clothes and then mommy gets upset with us."

"When she is sad, she bites us."

"That isn't very nice." I frown.

"She pinches me."

The information keeps coming until both of the girls look to one corner of the room. Their eyes looking frightened.

"What is happening now?"

"She is shouting.." Grace says before sitting up. "No, you're mean and you can't be my friend!"

My brows rise at her sudden anger and the use of her pointed finger.

"Grace stop it." Olivia whispers.

"Grace, lay back down, darling." I say softly, looking in the corner slyly to make sure that there is nothing there.

"She doesn't like you." Grace says as I tuck her back in.

"Well I am not fond of her, if she is hurting you both like this. In fact, I am very cross with her." I say before grabbing their story book. "Now, Lizzy, you can stay and listen to a story or you can leave. But I am reading to my nieces."

I wait a few seconds before Olivia whispers that she has gone. I don't show the shiver that runs down my back from that answer. 

Reading to the girls has always been a small joy of mine, and when it's early evening, I'll do voices and impressions. But this late at night, I read softly and continue reading until they both give in to the land of nod.

Setting their book down, I watch them both for a few minutes before getting up and going over to the small table Olivia was at drawing when I first came up. Picking up the paper, I go to stack it neatly when a drawing falls off the table and onto the floor. I stack the pile before picking up the fallen paper. I almost put it in the pile, until I see what is on it, causing me to freeze.

As usual, there are three girls, Olivia, Grace and Lizzy. Only this isn't a happy picture like the others have been. There is no pretty rainbow, flowers or yellow sun.

There is something more sinister.

Both girls have always loved drawing and their stick people have always been there. Which is why I know that the reason two of the girls with their heads detached from their bodies is no mistake. That the other girl holding the, what I think is a knife is no mistake and how the girl scribbled in black is Lizzy.

The drawing scares even me, and for the sake of Avery, I fold it up and stuff it into my pocket, not wanting to worry her anymore until I can help her out. 

With one last glance at the girls, I leave their room and go to close the door when a small toy car rolls across the floor, before stopping, going backwards and then tipping over.

I'm frozen on the spot because now I know, no ordinary imaginary friend can move objects!

"Leave them alone." I say quietly, hoping whatever is there will go, but then again, I'm no expert.

It's only as I am going down the stairs that I realise I know an expert in this field. I know someone who is into the paranormal, who does it for a living.

It's only as I reach the bottom step that I realise, no matter what happens or what danger I could be in, that I need to go and see Zak. 

Self pity, bruised ego and my pride can take a backseat because those two girls upstairs, trying to sleep in their beds mean more to me than a one sided screaming match with a man twice my size.

I go back to Avery, who is sat quietly on the couch. It's on the tip of my tongue to tell her what was said and what happened upstairs, but I don't want to worry her anymore. But I might suggest them coming to stay with me for a few days, so long as they can't smell Mavis' little green habit from the roof. "They are asleep."

However my plan of keeping it hush goes out the window.

"Good." She says setting her glass down before looking at me. "Now how the fuck do we get rid of Casper the not so friendly ghost?"