Still no reaction, the cool evening air silent except for the purr of the engine.

Hannah wasn’t sure what to do. Liam wasn’t home and she had no idea who this person was or what they intended.

Knowing it was wrong, but unsure what else to do, she reached her hand behind her, trying the front door. Technically it was breaking in, but she had good reason. Liam would understand, wouldn’t he? The door was locked. Of course it was. And that knowledge that there was nowhere for her to go had panic niggling at her gut.

She was overreacting, she told herself. Yet even as she tried to rationalise and steady her breathing, she knew it wasn’t true.

‘What do you want?’

When the figure failed to answer again, she snapped, unable to bear this game any longer.

‘I said, what do you want?’

As she shouted the words, she started limping down the driveway towards the car.

The figure moved quickly. Back in the car. Door slamming, engine revving, then the sound of the car flying backwards, before disappearing at speed back down the country lane.

Hannah’s heart was racing, adrenaline rattling through her. She had no idea what the person had wanted, but she suspected it wasn’t good.

As the sound of the engine faded, she debated what to do.

After this creepy encounter, there was no way she was going to walk back. She pulled up Liam’s number and called it. If he didn’t answer, then she would call a taxi. She didn’t want to be here if the car returned.

The phone rang before eventually cutting into answerphone and she didn’t bother leaving a message. Coming out here without checking he was home first had been stupid. She would live and learn.

She was about to call a cab when she spotted headlights again, her stomach knotting in fear.

It was too late. Whoever it was had decided to come back.

Shit! What was she going to do? There was nowhere for her to go.

Her heart started to thump, and her mouth was dry, as she glanced to the side of the house.

Would there be anywhere to hide round back?

This time, the car didn’t pause at the end of the drive, but as it neared, she heard a bark, then saw the silhouette of Tank’s big shaggy head poked out of the passenger window, tongue hanging out. He barked again in delight as he spotted Hannah, and her tension eased, relief spilling out.

Tank ran over to her the second he was out of the car and was up on his hind legs, and Hannah wrapped her arms around him, needing a moment to calm herself.

‘What are you doing here? Is everything okay?’

She looked up at Liam, aware he seemed more curious than pleased to see her.