Luke made a call to the police and later spotted a car patrolling outside. He put his tools down and made his way to the front gate, flagging the car down as it doubled back.
‘There’s no sign of him,’ the officer told him.
‘Well, he’s here somewhere,’ Luke told him. ‘Please keep looking. He’s been hanging around for a couple of days now at least.’
Luke gave the officer his description of Brandon again and watched as the car drove on, silently cursing as he glanced back up to the castle and saw Orla gazing down from one of the windows before edging back into the shadows.
Luke busied himself with his work after that, glad of the distraction. He was so mad at the upset this had all caused Orla and didn’t blame her for hiding out in her room, although he was concerned when she didn’t surface for lunch.
‘Orla?’ He knocked gently on her door. ‘Come and eat something.’
‘I’m not hungry.’
‘You should still eat.’
She didn’t reply.
Luke worked on through the afternoon, opening one of the windows in the great chamber to let the warm summer air help dry the lime plaster. And that’s when he heard it. He didn’t really register what it was at first because it was such a slight noise, but it gradually became louder and caught his attention because it simply wasn’t going away. He looked out of the window, half expecting to see a swarm of angry bees, but it wasn’t bees; it wasn’t anything belonging to the natural world. It was a drone.
Luke had never seen one in real life before, but there was no mistaking what it was. It looked like something out of a science-fiction film as it hovered around the castle windows, its evil buzz announcing its presence.
Luke cursed. He was cursing a lot that day. Now, as he looked out of the window to the castle grounds, he felt full of rage. It didn’t take him long to spot the guy. He was half hiding in the bushes, but he was definitely holding the control to the drone, which, Luke guessed, would be recording footage.
‘Luke?’
Luke turned around as Orla entered the great chamber.
‘Orla – go back to your room.’
‘What’s that noise?’
He pursed his lips, hating that he had to tell her. ‘It’s a drone.’
‘What?’
‘I’m calling the police again.’
‘Is it him?’
‘I think it must be.’
Orla cried and her hand flew to her mouth.
‘It’s all right – I’ll let the police know. We just have to remain calm, okay? Orla? You okay?’
She gave a nod and left the room.
Luke wasted no time. He was on the phone straight away to the police. He spoke to somebody who assured them that an officer would be sent out to them immediately and that he wasn’t to do anything to alert Brandon. That way, he wouldn’t get spooked and they’d have a better chance of catching him this time.
Luke hung up the phone. The sound of the drone could still be heard as it flew around the castle like an angry hornet, and a part of Luke wanted to go outside right there and then and deal with Brandon himself, but he knew that would be foolish and misguided. Instead, he closed the window and took a deep breath as he waited for the police to arrive.
It took a full half an hour for the car to pull up outside the gates of the castle. Luke watched from the window of the great chamber. Ever since the night of the train crash, the sight of a police car made him feel uneasy, but this wasn’t bringing bad news. With any luck, it was delivering good news for Orla.
The only trouble was, the sound of the drone had stopped about ten minutes before the police car had arrived and Luke hadn’t seen any evidence of Brandon since then. Had he known he’d pushed his luck and left before he knew they could alert anybody? Luke waited, watching the policeman as he searched the grounds and glad that Orla was out of the way from the rather distressing scene.
A few minutes later, the bell rang at the front door.
‘I’ll get it, Orla,’ Luke called through, even though it was obvious she had no intention of answering it.
‘Mr Hansard?’ the young officer said.
‘Yes.’
‘You’re the one who made the call?’
‘I am.’
‘I’m afraid there’s no sign of anybody in the grounds.’
‘I thought you were going to say that. Have you checked the lane? And the footpath? He can’t have gone far.’
‘I’ll certainly take a look before I leave, but I’m afraid there isn’t much more I can do unless he’s actually in the grounds.’
Luke sighed in frustration. ‘He’s causing a lot of stress.’
‘Yes, I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘Is there nothing else you can do?’
‘Not unless we can apprehend him here.’
Luke grimaced.
‘Let us know if he comes back,’ the officer said, nodding his head before leaving.
Luke closed the door, angry that he had to break this news to Orla.
He found her in the china room, where she was sitting on a little wooden chair, staring at the floor.
‘I’m afraid the police couldn’t find him,’ he said without preamble.
‘Couldn’t find him?’
‘But he’s gone. He’s not out there now.’
‘He won’t have gone,’ Orla whispered, still looking down at the floor.
‘But we know what to do if we see him anywhere near the castle again, okay? Anyway, I don’t think he’ll come back.’
She raised her eyes to his and he could see the deep fear within them. ‘What makes you think that?’
‘He’ll know he’s pushed his luck, and surely he’ll have seen the police car if he’s still hanging around.’ Luke flinched inwardly. He shouldn’t have made any reference to the possibility that Brandon was still hanging around. ‘I’m sure he’s gone. He’s violated his restraining order and he’s invaded your privacy with that drone. Now, I don’t know much about law, but I’m guessing the police won’t look too favourably on that, and he’s sure to know that.’
‘I thought I was safe here.’
‘You are!’
She shook her head. ‘He still found me. I thought this place would protect me.’
‘But it did! He didn’t get in, did he?’
Orla didn’t look at all comforted by this.
‘Listen – it’s been a trying day and you’re tired. Let me make you something to eat, okay? Just try and relax and have an early night.’ He moved forward an inch and reached out a hand to squeeze her shoulder and was relieved when she nodded.
Chapter 19
Something felt wrong that night. Orla could just sense it. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was somehow being watched, which was crazy, really, because she was sleeping – or trying to sleep – behind walls that were at least eight feet thick. She couldn’t hear any drones, either, so she put it down to paranoia again. But the fact that Brandon had been there – both in the village and in the castle grounds – shook her. Luke was probably right and Brandon had most likely left Lorford hours ago, but what if he hadn’t? What if he was still out there now?