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‘Everything looks okay,’ she whispered.

They walked quietly down the hall, checking each room thoroughly. After turning the lights on, Cy checked under each bed, in each cupboard and behind the curtains in each room.

‘I feel like I’m intruding, looking into their rooms.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Tarni said. ‘I’ve only been in the kitchen and laundry, and the living room and guest accommodation.’

Cy nodded. Tarni respected the McLaren’s privacy as he would have if he’d been staying in the house.

‘What about the back door and the side verandas?’ she said. ‘We should check those too.’

They walked through the laundry and to the back door that opened onto the veranda. Unlike the front door, it was locked.

‘That’s strange. Please don’t doubt me.’ Her eyes were wide. ‘I really did lock the doors.’

‘I don’t doubt you, Tarni. I’m sure someone’s been here but, strangely, there’s no sign of forced entry.’

‘Who else would have keys? she wondered aloud. ‘Maybe some of the family called in, but if they had, I’m sure they would’ve locked the door when they left.’

‘Someone shut the gate,’ Cy said. ‘I left it open. Come on, we’ll lock the door and go down and have a look down at the shed and check the dogs. Or would you rather stay here now we know it’s clear?’ He was still holding Tarni’s hand.

‘No, I’m not staying here by myself. Not now, maybe in the morning when it’s light. I don’t want to be here by myself in the dark.’

Cy thought long and hard trying to figure out who it might have been. The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he found the situation. He’d give Ryan a call later. All he could think of was the McLaren’s emphasis on security.

The roller door and the side door of the shed were locked securely.

Cy let go of Tarni’s hand and walked over to the ute and switched the headlights on, lighting up the space between the shed and the dog pen. When he walked back to Tarni, she slipped her hand into his again.

It felt good.

Molly and Max ran around barking. ‘Calm down, guys. Are you hungry?’

Max, the blue heeler, let out a yelp and nudged over to his food bowl.

‘Do you think it’s food they want? Or are they trying to tell us something?’ Tarni asked. ‘I don’t know much about dogs. I’ve never had one.’

‘No, they only get fed once a day, and I did feed them both this afternoon before we left. It was a little bit out of their routine. Plus, they haven’t been out for a run today.’

‘They seem unsettled, don’t they? They should be used to us by now.’ Tarni looked around as if expecting an intruder to jump out of the shadows.

‘They should.’ She was still holding Cy’s hand tightly and he stopped and faced her. ‘I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but what would you say about me sleeping in the house tonight?’

‘Why? Because of my hand or the intruder?’

‘Both. Until I’m sure there’s no one around, I’d feel better being close by. It’s a long way from the shed up to the house if you called out for help—’

‘Of course, it’s fine. There’s a spare bedroom just down from mine.’

‘Yeah, Kane wanted a lot of bedrooms when he designed the house. I remember Ryan paying out on him for planning to have half a dozen kids.’

‘Kane and Ellie seem lucky. Sounds like they have a big extended family too.’ Tarni sounded wistful.

‘They are a very large and close family and yes, they are very happy. Mind you, they’ve done it tough. They’ve had their share of tragedy.’

‘Haven’t we all?’ Tarni whispered. She lifted her head and looked at him. ‘That’s one of the reasons why I think I might stay up this way when I finish my research here at the end of my PhD studies. A new start in a good place.’

‘Sounds like a good plan.’ Cy held her eyes with his and was dismayed to see tears welling in Tarni’s.