12-year-old Ella is surprised by an unusual birthday gift from her father: a Brownie camera and the advice to seek pictures of things that 'don't belong'. This is how Ella first notices Billy, a boy at her school. When Ella's mother's purse is raided, suspicion falls on Billy. Then, just as Ella is learning surprising things about both her mother and her mysterious friend, the cyclone arrives. How can Ella, armed only with her camera, help her friend?