Page 107 of The House Swap

When they stopped again, it was different. The engine cut and she was aware of the silence. There were no voices, no passing traffic. Hearing the driver’s door open again, then the sound of footsteps, she flattened herself behind the stacked equipment, her heart thundering so loudly, she was sure it would give her away.

The back doors opened and from her position she could see Martin’s legs, then beyond him a strip of pale ground, rough and uneven.

She didn’t move, even tried her best not to breathe, as he reached for something. The toolbox, she thought. He pushed the door shut again, but it didn’t quite catch, a thin sliver of light still illuminating the interior.

Poppy waited. Although desperate to get out, she needed to be certain he was gone first. When the silence stretched on, she moved herself slowly forward, easing the door open just enough to peer out.

Her stomach dropped. They were in the middle of nowhere.

No road. Just rough ground reaching out in every direction.

Then she spotted it, off to the side. A villa. It was another large white building like Tom’s, but even more isolated.

She caught a glimpse of Martin walking towards it. In one hand he carried the black toolbox, while in the other was a brown paper bag. It looked like some kind of takeaway.

He must have stopped to pick up lunch on the way.

Did he live here?

The front door opened and he disappeared inside.

Poppy’s pulse hammered as she realised this was her chance. Grabbing the box of camera devices, she swung her legs out of the van, dropping to the ground. Every nerve in her body was screaming at her to run.

Now she was outside and could see properly, she realised just how far inland they were. Looking down, she spotted a few buildings dotted along the coastline. From up here, the sea seemed so far away. And the villa itself was imposing and looked expensive. All of the windows had wooden shutters and most of them had been pulled down, suggesting it was empty for the winter.

No, Martin didn’t live here, she was certain. It must be another property that he looked after.

There were fewer places for her to hide up here. Just a small group of trees beyond the villa. Would she be wisest to make a run for it while he was still inside and try to reach a place of safety? Or should she hide in the trees and wait there for Martin to leave?

As she debated, she took a step back, turning away.

That was when a sound came from inside the villa.

A scream.

It was so faint she almost missed it, but the second time it came, it was clearer.

Poppy froze. Her blood turning to ice.

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For several seconds, Poppy didn’t move. Her legs rooted to the spot as she stared at the villa, trying to make sense of what she had just heard.

It had definitely been a scream. She knew she wasn’t mistaken. And it hadn’t been Martin, so that meant someone was inside the villa with him. But he had arrived alone and the place looked empty. There were no cars outside, only his van. And as for the scream itself, it hadn’t sounded like a yelp of surprise or someone fooling around. No. It had definitely been someone who was in distress.

Her stomach dropped. What the hell was going on?

Her first instinct was to run. To get away from here as quickly as possible. Back to the road, to somewhere safe. But her feet still didn’t move.

If she had her phone she would call the police, but she didn’t, and if she left, she had no idea how long it would take to raise the alarm, or if she would even remember how to get back here.

Whoever had cried out needed help now.

Poppy wasn’t quite sure she would be able to do anything, but equally she would never forgive herself if she left.

She swallowed, her throat bone-dry, and forced herself to breathe.

Think.