‘She knows Michael lies,’ I say, and I must say it loud because people turn to look at me. ‘He tells people we never had a relationship. That I was just some one-night-stand groupie. That I never went to his house. But Cat met me on tour. She saw I was more than just a one-night thing. Diane was talking to me like I was a total whore.’

I begin to hyperventilate.

‘Calm down,’ says Dee. People are still staring. ‘Who cares what Diane thinks, right? But … what exactly do you expect Cat to do?’

‘Go to the police. Again. Tell them what I told her to say last time. Give it another try now she’s sober. Maybe they’ll believe her now she’s not on drugs.’

‘Maybe Michael did lie,’ says Dee gently. ‘To save his marriage. And maybe he lied about Annalise too. Maybe she was at his house and he didn’t want anyone to know he had a teenage girl hanging around. Because she was so young and there would be implications. He wanted to sign her, right?’

‘So he said.’

‘Michael might even regret lying now. He might wish he’d told the truth. But now he can’t back down without the police suspecting him of something sinister. And if he was honest about you, he’d ruin his marriage.’

‘He regrets nothing because he feels nothing.’

‘I don’t think you should contact Cat,’ says Dee. ‘She’s been through enough. For all you know, she might have forgiven Michael and made her peace with him. She’s probably trying to let things go.’

‘Like I should do, you mean?’

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘You implied it. Look, Cat is the only person who ever called Michael out on anything. Everyone else is blinded by his magnificence. Too scared.’

Dee watches me with sad eyes. ‘Lorna,’ she says gently. ‘I’m not sure this is the best way forward. We’ve been here before, haven’t we? You trying to ruin his reputation.’

‘That’s not what I was trying to do. I was trying to make everyone see the truth.’

‘You weren’t trying to get your own back? Not even a little bit?’

I take a gulp of Americano, ignoring the burning.

‘It didn’t work,’ Dee points out. ‘Did it? It just made you look crazy.’

‘But I’m not crazy. I’m not.’

Dee puts a hand over mine. ‘I know, sweetie. I know. You’re past all that now.’

Liberty

It’s morning.

I’ve made it through a night at my father’s house unscathed.

I have to say, this place is incredible in its own way. It’s not my thing, all the fake turrets and marble and mismatched finery. I prefer simple. But the woods go on forever – miles of them.