‘I love you to infinity. You’re my darling daughter. I turned the world upside down looking.’

‘I can’t believe this is the first time I’m meeting you,’ I say, words cracking in my throat. ‘That my mother kept me away. She hates you so much.’

‘Lorna doesn’t hate me, Liberty,’ says Michael. ‘She loves me. That’s what all of this is about. She can’t stand that I stayed with Diane. Taking you was her revenge.’ Michael’s phone bleeps and he frowns at it. ‘Oh, look at that. Talk about timing. The first of the guests are at the gates.’

‘I hope my mother has gone,’ I say. ‘It would be so embarrassing if she’s still out there. While your guests are arriving. God.’ I put my head in my hands. ‘SO embarrassing.’

‘Don’t you worry about any of that,’ says Michael. ‘Diane will have sorted it.’

‘My mother will be going out of her mind, knowing I’m here.’

‘Can’t say I blame Lorna for worrying,’ says Michael. ‘There’s a lot she’s kept hidden from you. If I were her, I’d be crawling over hot coals to keep it all quiet.’

‘What has she kept hidden?’

‘We’ll talk about this some other time, Liberty. The guests are arriving. You don’t want to get into this with people turning up.’

‘I do,’ I say, taking a kitchen stool. ‘Mum has always been secretive. Not just about you. About lots of things. Medical reports. My birth certificate. All sorts of things. I know there’s more to this than just you supposedly being a bad guy.’

‘Yeah, you’re a smart girl,’ says Michael, taking a stool. His phone bleeps again. ‘Okay. This is Danny, my driver. He’s just let the first round of guests through the gate. Which means your mother has gone.’

‘Then you’d better tell me quickly.’

Michael laughs. ‘Okay. Well, I can tell you one thing. A good friend of mine will be here soon. Have you heard of Cat Cannon?’

I nod slowly. ‘The singer.’

‘And I take it, by the look on your face, that your mother has told you about Cat Cannon? And her daughter?’

‘No, but … I read articles about them. Cat Cannon supported one of your tours. And her daughter went missing shortly afterwards.’ I pause. ‘Her name was Annalise, right? The daughter?’

Michael nods.

‘My middle name is Annalise.’

‘That’s your middle name? Really?’

I nod.

‘I suppose it makes sense. Your mother would have something of a guilty conscience.’

‘Meaning?’