‘Has Zara come in this morning?’

Jack shook his head. ‘No, and that’s for the best, I think.’

‘You can’t blame her for trying. I’d imagine that an exciting story like drones casing out farms to steal things from would be a great distraction from what she’s having to face.’

Jack looked over at Dave, the amazement clear on his face. ‘And that’s coming from a man who has a dislike of journalists and has always encouraged me to stay away from them.’

‘Hey, I didn’t say that I liked the idea, just said it would have to be a good distraction for her.’ Dave stood up. ‘Anyway, I’m going for a drive. Need to get some air. Might go back out and see what’s happening at Rowberry Glen. Are there any responses on the Facebook page before I go?’

Jack refreshed the page. ‘No. I wouldn’t have expected there to be yet. I only put the post up a couple of minutes ago.’

Dave nodded and started to walk out as Jack’s phone dinged. ‘That your girlfriend?’

Jack turned to scowl at him. ‘Bugger off,’ he said as he looked at the screen. ‘Oh, shit.’

‘What?’

He read from his screen: Will has contracted an infection and things aren’t looking too good. We’re on our way out to see him. Karl.

Dave groaned. ‘God, it makes me feel so helpless. A young man like that. And he was frightened when I was there yesterday, that much was clear. Sometimes the world sucks.’

‘Got that right,’ Jack said, still staring at the message. ‘You know he’s younger than me? Really puts things into perspective.’

‘I’ll text Kim and let her know.’ Dave clapped Jack on the shoulder as he walked out. ‘You’ll be right, mate. Hang in there.’

Chapter 15

Zara opened the door to five men, all looking unusually sombre.

‘Hi,’ she said. She held open the door. ‘Come in.’

‘Hi, Zara,’ Karl answered, walking in past her and leading the way down the hallway to the kitchen.

‘Here to see Will?’ She glanced at the other men as they filed past her. ‘I know your faces but, I’m sorry, I don’t remember your names.’

Karl nodded. ‘We heard he’d got an infection; thought it was time to come out. You’ve got Jock, Ray, Ash and Charlie here.’

‘Are you guys from the footy team? So nice you’ve come. I knew Mum had messaged you, Karl.’

‘That’s us.’ There was a pause before Karl asked, ‘So what’s happening? Where’s Lynda?’

‘Just giving Will some meds so he can get up and talk to you, hopefully, although I wouldn’t be sure he’ll be able to come out. He woke up in the middle of last night with a raging temperature. We tried to get him to the hospital, but the doctor ended up coming out and giving him intravenous antibiotics.’ She paused. ‘An infection when he’s this sick isn’t good.’

‘No, I guess it’s not.’

‘Be back in a sec.’ Zara slipped through the kitchen and down to Will’s room. She saw her mum leaning over him with a glass of water and a straw.