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Lowering herself to the soft cushions, she sat straight and looked around, trying to see if anything else was missing. But nothing was out of place. Only the box and her underwear. A shiver ran through her at the thought of someone touching her panties. The furniture melded into a blur of colour as she stared at the wall, ignoring the food in front of her. The clock ticked in the silence as the greyness of uncertainty enveloped her. It was time to start taking a bit more care. A lot more care.

After a few minutes, she picked up the plate, took it into the kitchen, and tipped the cold burger, which was now sitting in a congealed pool of juices, into the small bin under the sink.

Her stomach roiled as she walked across to the table and opened her laptop. Someone had been in her room again. The metallic taste of fear and doubt filled her mouth.

She fought for calm as she logged on and set up a group call. The musical tones of the Skype call signal broke the silence as she waited for her sisters to pick up.

‘Ellie!’ Dru’s blonde curls filled the screen. ‘You’re early. I just got to the office.’

‘Hey, Dru. Have you got time for a chat? Em’s not picking up. She mustn’t be home yet.’ Ellie managed to speak naturally and her calm voice surprised her.

‘Yes, but be quick. I’ve got an unexpected meeting.’ Dru’s voice was as clear as if she was in the room with her.

Holding the laptop in front of her, Ellie walked over to the door and checked it was locked. Dru always had unexpected meetings when they tried to set up a family call. Even when they tried to talk at Emma’s place a couple of weeks back, whenever the discussion turned to Mum’s issues, there’d always been something she had to do or a call she had to make. It had been like that since Dad’s death, but she and Em still always made the effort to include her.

Ding! As she stared at the computer screen, an email notification came in from Emma.

Ellie chewed her lip thoughtfully. Dad had always laughed when the computer dinged when an email had arrived. He hadn’t been savvy with computers but she’d set up an account for him a few months before he died.

‘Dru, you’re the computer whiz. How long do email accounts stay active if you don’t use them?’

‘As long as the service provider exists. But with something like Gmail or Hotmail, they’re pretty much there forever. Why, what’s up?’

Ellie stared at the screen. Dru was only half paying attention and was focused on something on her desk and Ellie knew she wasn’t interested in the past. And she could do nothing to help way over in Dubai. ‘Nothing important. Have you settled back to work after your holiday?’

‘Yep, work’s good. How about you?’

How about me? Broke my rules and slept with a guy I work with. Someone has been breaking into my room. And then there’s the old farm.

Ellie shook her head as she stared at Dru’s big blue eyes and the office window behind her sister. Even over the connection, she could see the smog of Dubai hanging in the air.

‘Yes, really busy. The lodge is full and –’

‘Look, Ellie, I’m really sorry, Sam is waving at me from his office. Obviously a drama of some sort. Give my love to Mum . . . and Em. I’ll email you. Bye.’

The screen went blue before Ellie could even reply. She jumped as a tree branch scraped against the corrugated roof.

Why would anyone be interested in a box of old school reports? Maybe there was a petty thief on the prowl. But why would they take the box and leave her laptop and the other minor valuables alone? And why would they go through her underwear drawer? She thought of the thug who’d chased her off the farm.

Maybe it was some sort of warning. Her uniform had indicated where she worked, and it wouldn’t be hard to find out where her apartment was.

The Skype call chimed again and she pressed answer.

Emma’s happy smile filled the screen. ‘Hey, sis. You look tired.’

Ellie closed her eyes for a brief second and drew a breath. ‘Hi, Em. I am a bit. Mum there too?’

‘She’ll be here in a minute. We’re going across to the cafe in the village for dinner. Mum’s idea.’

Ellie frowned, surprised. ‘Wow, Mum’s idea? What’s happening over there?’

‘I took her down to the new clinical psychologist at the hospital in Port Douglas on Friday, and he’s eased her medication right back. I don’t know what he said to her, but she looked brighter as soon as she came out of the consult.’

‘Shit.’ Ellie bit her lip, not knowing what to do. The last thing she wanted was to set Mum back again.

‘What do you mean shit? We’ve been waiting for this to happen for five years.’

‘I know and it’s wonderful to hear.’ Ellie hesitated. ‘Where is she now?’