‘Maybe,’ she said, although in reality she had no intention of getting the police involved in case the connection to her mother was exposed. He looked at her questioningly. She continued, ‘Unless something has been taken, let’s not. I’d sooner not get the police involved; it’s pointless. Besides, it probably won’t do much for publicity.’ She didn’t add that her mind was already racing ahead and making possible connections. If the intrusion was anything to do with her being here on Sonia’s behalf, then it suggested someone had something they wanted to keep hidden and were trying to warn Steph off. Bringing the police in would only make whoever it was even more on their guard.

‘You’re being very generous about this,’ Harry said. ‘We could do without the police turning up and drawing a lot of the wrong type of attention to the place. Obviously, I’m concerned there’s someone on site who is going around trying to break in and steal stuff. I’ll speak to Security and get them to up their rounds. But first, can you check that nothing has been stolen?’

‘I’ll look properly in the morning, but my laptop is there on the table where I left it and my phone should be in my bag.’

Harry rose and picked up her bag, passing it to her. ‘Have a quick look.’

Steph opened her bag and retrieved her phone. ‘Yep, that’s here, and so is my purse and … yep, all my cards are still in there with the bit of cash I had. Nothing has been taken.’

‘That’s something at least,’ said Harry, once again resuming his position on the coffee table. ‘How are you feeling? Do you want a coffee or a sweet tea for the shock?’

‘I would really like to get some sleep. I’ve got a raging headache. I think there is some paracetamol in my bag. I’ll take a couple of those.’

Harry got up and ran Steph a glass of water.

‘Thank you,’ she said, taking the glass and swallowing two pills down. She let out something between a sigh and a groan.

‘I don’t think you should be on your own. I can stay with you tonight,’ said Harry, and then added quickly, ‘I can stay here on the sofa.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ she said, although the thought of having someone else in the lodge for the night was appealing, even if the idea of coming across as a weak woman who needed looking after annoyed her.

‘I would sooner not leave you on your own,’ said Harry, this time more firmly. ‘I’d like to get the locks looked at in the morning. It’s too late to get anyone out tonight.’