He watched the other man snatch it out of his pocket.

‘Hell fire! The security system’s been breached at Saffron Lane. I didn’t expect anyone to attack it so early in the evening because Elise and Stacy will still be up. I have to get down there.’

‘You were expecting an attack?’ Janey asked, surprised.

But she was talking to herself because he’d set off running towards the drive that led to his home.

Adam turned to his daughter. ‘Can Gemma and Hope come in again and stay with you for a bit longer, Janey? Angus might need some help.’ He turned to Gemma. ‘Stay here till we make sure it’s safe.’

‘Dan will stay with us, won’t you?’

‘Happy to.’

‘Thanks.’ He got into his car and drove off.

The others stared at one another until Janey glanced towards the stairs and said, ‘If I didn’t have Millie to look after, I’d be going after them.’

Gemma clutched her sister’s arm. ‘Why don’t you and I do that? I don’t know about you, but I’d be no use in a fight. We could act as witnesses, though, if there was a dispute. What do you think?’

Hope surprised them by saying, ‘Good idea. Do it! I can keep an eye on Millie for you, Janey, love.’ That offer earned her an approving look from her daughter.

The two girls grabbed their outdoor clothes.

‘I’ve got my mobile phone. I can take photos.’ Gemma waved it as she raced out of the house.

The three older people left behind looked at one another rather anxiously.

‘I hope they’ll be all right,’ Hope said.

‘Well, they won’t be alone. Put Millie to bed and come and join us in the kitchen,’ Winifred said. ‘I’ll switch on the baby monitor so we’ll hear her if she wakes.’

‘They said they were just going to observe what happened,’ Dan said.

‘I hope they keep to that. You know how impulsive girls that age can be.’ Hope went up to check on Millie then joined the others to wait anxiously for news.

Adam slowed the car alongside Angus and Nell. ‘Hop in. We’ll get down there more quickly in this and have a bit of protection inside it if necessary.’

They didn’t hesitate to pile in and he set off before they’d even finished closing the car doors, talking at the same time to tell them about the council meeting. ‘Dan said the developer was there and gave testimony that he considered the houses in Saffron Lane unsafe.’

‘That’s rubbish.’

‘Shh now.’ They all stopped talking as he slowed right down just before they got to Saffron Lane itself. He switched the engine off, letting the car roll forward soundlessly down the gentle slope till it came to a halt.

‘I can’t see any vehicles other than the two belonging to the tenants, either here or out on the main street,’ Angus whispered. ‘I wonder what tripped the alarms. Let’s go the rest of the way on foot. If there is someone up to mischief, it’d be best to surprise whoever it is.’