‘I think Faith could be right,’ Christine says, folding her arms around herself. ‘What if he set up the phone to go straight to his mobile, or something? I think they can do that, can’t they?’

‘You can do anything, if you want to bad enough,’ Leon says, but he’s shaking his head, as though he doesn’t believe it.

‘He would have known we would go to the cottage eventually, what with everything that’s been happening here at the hotel,’ Faith goes on.

‘But why would he play games like that?’ Alice says. ‘And anyway, if he was pretending to be the emergency services, he would surely keep up the pretence and get it right, and ask what service we required.’

‘I don’t know, would he?’ Faith shrugs.

‘But it doesn’t make sense, Faith. He could have just disconnected the phone.’

‘Not if he’s playing games with us.’

A chill darts down Alice’s spine. Could Faith be right? Could Cameron have set this whole thing up? Taken their mobile phones? Cut the phone line?

‘What if he killed the Winslows?’ Christine says, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes shimmering as she looks about her. ‘What if he’s going to kill us all?’

‘But why?’ Tears prick Alice’s eyes. ‘Why would some man none of us know kill the Winslows? Do all of this?’ She looks around too, a stab of fear almost knocking her off her feet. She grips Leon’s arm, and he turns, stares deep into her eyes.

‘I have to get help,’ he says.

‘What? No, Leon, we need to all stay here, together,’ Alice cries, tightening her grip on his arm. ‘There’s no way to get back to the mainland until tomorrow. The boat’s gone, remember? The phone lines are down.’

‘I have to do something.’ He shakes off her hand, makes his way into the bar, and everyone follows, as though attached to him by invisible leads. He heads across the room, and throws open the French doors. ‘The storm’s almost over now,’ he says. ‘I reckon I can swim back and get help. It’s not that far.’

‘You can’t!’ There’s panic in Alice’s voice, the thought of him leaving sending a bolt of fear through her body. ‘What if the storm returns, Leon? You won’t be safe out there.’

He glances over his shoulder, meets her eyes once more. ‘I’m a good swimmer, Alice. You know that.’

‘I think it’s a good idea.’ Christine puts her arm around Alice, but she shrugs her away.

‘He’s a lifeguard,’ Faith says. ‘He can do this.’

‘While he’s getting help, the three of us can lock ourselves in one of the bedrooms,’ Christine goes on. ‘We’ll be safe together.’

‘It makes sense, Alice,’ Leon says. ‘You’ve got to see that.’