‘We’re glad, James. I don’t know why Mum hasn’t said anything, but both Will and I are happy for you both.’ She kept to herself her feelings from last night—they didn’t matter right now.

‘That’s very nice of you to say.’ He looked a little relieved. ‘Now, I best get on and see Will.’

‘Mum’s down there.’

James nodded and left the kitchen, smiling.

Zara drove straight to the police station after James had left. Her mum was sitting with Will.

She didn’t have time to say hello to Joan, only, ‘Is Jack or Dave here?’

Jack appeared and seemed startled at her frazzled appearance. ‘Jeez, Zara, are you okay? How’s Will? He’s not …’

‘No, he’s hanging on. Have you got a couple of minutes?’

‘Sure, come through.’

He held the door open and led her to the interview room. Setting the laptop down, she opened up a file and showed Jack the image. ‘This was taken at 3.02 am today,’ she said. ‘I also saw this car in a parking bay close to Rowberry Glen. You can see the numberplate.’

‘And what was it doing to cause you concern?’

‘Nothing really, other than being parked in odd areas at odd times. I just thought you should know, with reports of a drone being flown around. People who aren’t local being out in the early hours is weird. You have to admit that it’s pretty unusual for a car to drive back tracks in this country at that time of night, particularly with an interstate numberplate. I think it would raise concerns for more than a few people.’

Jack scrolled through the footage and wrote down the numberplate details. ‘There’s nothing illegal about any of that, just so long as they haven’t driven onto your farm.’

‘I know.’ Zara felt her temper rising. The lack of sleep and her emotions were getting the better of her. ‘Ash, one of Will’s friends who visited last night, said it was parked near the front gate when they came in, but when I saw it, the vehicle looked like it was about to pull out of the parking bay. At first I thought they might’ve been lost, but then to turn up at the gate at that time of morning and stay there for a good ten or fifteen minutes … Well, I think that’s bizarre.’

‘I agree, it’s certainly strange, but I can’t investigate strange, Zara, and you know that.’ His voice was gentle. ‘Do you want me to come out and have a look around your place? Check that nothing’s been stolen or anything?’