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From our sofa, Mum and I video-called Dad to tell him good night. He tried to fake cheerfulness, but he seemed tired. His voice was weak, as though he was far away. Fading.

Quiet and sad, we cleaned up. We fumbled a hug good night. I cuddled Fred, and he trotted behind Mum to bed.

Keeping an eye on Mum’s bedroom door, I searched the filing cabinet in the office nook close to the kitchen.

The paper bank account records showed regular payments received from Big Wave Holdings for reasonable amounts.

No red flags. Still, that only showed Snow wasn’t a complete idiot, not that he wasn’t doing anything illegal.

I slid open my bedroom door. Inside, it felt like something had disturbed the air. Like someone had been in here. Had I left my wardrobe door open like that? I was pretty messy, but I was sure I hadn’t.

Stop this. I was on edge, jet-lagged. I got ready and rolled into bed.

Lying in bed, I listened to the branches clawing at the bathroom window, like someone trying to get in. Help me, help me. I was imagining things again. I talked myself down and eventually fell asleep.

Clank! Bang! I jolted awake. I checked the time: 2:00 a.m. Was someone out there?

I threw off my sheet. What was my plan if I encountered someone?

I ran out into the cold night air to the garage and grabbed a piece of wood.

I paused at the top of the driveway, gasping, searching around me.

Across the road, a dark figure stalked into my view, looming large against the dark sky.