After being given the go-ahead by the Landlord to spend the night, Alan arrives at possibly the most desolate spot on earth - during a snowstorm - a good five miles outside the small train station of Potter Heigham in Norfolk, where Alan will be checking on a bungalow that he and his wife will be renting as their holiday home come August.

Being February (Mrs. Alan believes in planning ahead), it's snowbound. During his first night there, a young woman's car breaks down outside the bungalow and he, being gallant, goes to her assistance. Rather than being grateful, the girl is surly and uncommunicative, even when a lorry driver loaded with milk cans stops and agrees to give her a lift to Norwich. After agreeing to come back for her car in the morning, the two leave after the lorry driver and Alan push the car into the garage about 15 yards from the bungalow.

After they left, Alan begins to wonder where the girl came from, driving in the middle of the night on a little-used road - a road one would use if one wanted to avoid people - as if she were driving a stolen car. This idea thrilled Alan so he decides to go back to the garage to check up on the car to see if can find any more information...