Saving Willowbrook by Anna Jacobs

about the accident.
    â€˜That might keep him away but it’s very lonely out here and you said you’d had another break-in.’
    Even as he was speaking, they heard a car coming along the drive. She moved away from him, straightened her clothes and ran a hand over her hair, which was always escaping from the scarf she used to tie it back. ‘I’ll – um – just go and see who that is.’
    Two elderly couples emerged from a large station wagon which had seen better days. Ella showed them the chalets then brought them back to the house to book them in, listening to the tales of their trip as if it was the most fascinating story she’d ever heard.
    Cameron nodded to them and waited for her to finish.
    â€˜Is there anything else, Mr O’Neal?’
    â€˜I’d like a can of lemonade. Shall I help myself and put it on my account?’
    â€˜Yes, please do. And we’ll settle the account after you get back.’
    He smiled at her, then the two couples. ‘I hope your stay here is as enjoyable as mine has been. Ms Turner is an excellent cook if you’re thinking of eating here.’
    â€˜Well, that’s nice to know.’ One of the men came across to offer his hand. ‘Joe Blake. We’re only here for a couple of nights, but it’d be nice not to have to drive out again tonight, I must admit.’
    Cameron went to pack his things, relieved that Ella wouldn’t be on her own. When he’d put his bags in his car, he went to find her.
    â€˜Promise me you’ll be careful.’
    â€˜I will.’
    â€˜I’ll be gone for a couple of days, three at most. If they leave before I get back . . .’
    â€˜Cameron, I’ve lived here alone for the past two years. I’ll be perfectly all right.’
    Only when he’d driven off did she realize that he hadn’t given her his mobile number, and the only address she had for him was a post office box.
    He’ll be back, she told herself as she began to defrost some food for her new guests. I can trust him.
    I’m missing him already, she thought later as she and Porgy went to meet Amy after school. How stupid can you get?
    He will come back, she thought again as she prepared a meal for her guests. Of course he will.
    I’m worrying for nothing, she told herself as she got ready for bed.
    But surely, if he’d meant what he said, he’d have arranged to keep in touch?

Six
    In the middle of the night the security lights switched on and the buzzer linked to them sounded next to Ella’s bed. She woke with a start and sat up, her heart thumping madly. Quickly she dragged on her dressing gown before picking up the old rounders bat she now kept next to her bed for protection. Without switching on the lights, she crept from one side of the house to the other, peering out of the windows, but could see no signs of movement outside.
    After the usual two-minute period, the lights automatically switched off again. She waited for a while longer, roaming the shadowy house, peering out of windows, then went back to bed. It was probably some animal that had strayed on to the farm. A deer, maybe. The fence must be down somewhere.
    Just as she was dozing off, the lights came on again and the buzzer jerked her awake.
    Another tour of the windows showed nothing.
    This happened several times, then stopped. Only she kept expecting the lights to go on again and couldn’t relax, let alone sleep.
    She felt very angry. Someone was playing with her. Was it Brett Harding? Why would he bother? Wasn’t he in enough trouble?
    And if it wasn’t him, who was it? What about the people who’d vandalized her home? She still worried about why they’d picked on her.
    She returned to bed but tossed and turned for a long time before falling into an uneasy sleep.
    In the morning, the alarm clock woke her at the usual time. Feeling heavy-headed, she went into Amy’s room, lingering a