‘You’re going to believe Lorna?’ said Michael, giving an outraged laugh. ‘Come on, Cat. She barely knows what day of the week it is. You have to listen to me – Annalise was never here.’ His voice had turned smooth then. If there was one thing he could never do, it was to out-temper-tantrum Cat. They were equally matched when it came to aggression.

‘But … she stayed in the room next to you,’ I said, feeling even more insane than I usually did.

Michael turned to me and barked: ‘Go back to bed, Lorna! Sleep it off.’

‘I knew she was here,’ Cat raged. ‘I knew it. You’re a fucking liar, Michael.’

‘I. Don’t. Lie,’ said Michael, voice low, shaking his head in disgust. ‘Listen – okay, Annalise came to my door a while back, bags on her shoulders. But it was months ago. She’s not here now, end of.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me she came by?’ Cat demanded.

‘You two are always arguing,’ said Michael. ‘Some drama going on. How was I supposed to know she didn’t go back to you? What was there to tell? She came here. She said she was going home. She left.’

I tensed then, knowing Michael was twisting the truth. Annalise had come here. But she hadn’t left straight away. I thought about Annalise’s rounded stomach under that cottony dress.

‘If you slept with her—’ Cat began.

‘Don’t you start throwing accusations around,’ said Michael, pointing an angry finger. ‘What kind of parent are you anyway? Three days out of rehab and you think you’re Mother Superior? Like you haven’t neglected that girl her whole life?’

‘I haven’t been the best mother. I know I haven’t. You think I don’t feel guilty? It doesn’t make me love my daughter any less.’ Cat’s red fingernails clenched into fists. ‘WHERE IS SHE, MICHAEL?’

‘You should know the answer to that,’ said Michael. ‘You’re her mother. Don’t put your bullshit on us. You’re the one who’s taking care of her.’

‘Lorna, when was she here?’ Cat demanded.

‘Um …’ I was a dumb, frozen rabbit in headlights. I hate myself for that now. Absolutely hate myself.

Michael’s voice turns quieter. ‘Earlier in the year some time.’ He turned to me. ‘A long time ago. Wasn’t it, Lorna?’

My stomach churned. When Michael’s voice went quiet like that, I knew I was in trouble. And he wasn’t lying – Annalise had left earlier in the year.

I felt myself nod.

‘Listen.’ Michael put an arm around Cat’s shoulder. ‘She’ll turn up. You know she will. She’ll be staying with a friend somewhere. Do you want to call the police?’

Cat’s eyes faltered. ‘Do you think it’s come to that? She always turns up in the end. You know what the police will do. Call Social Services.’