‘Probably the one and only time he had ever considered anyone else in his life,’ said Harry.

‘Sounds like my mum,’ said Steph and then felt like kicking herself for bringing the conversation back to Wendy.

Harry put an arm around her shoulder. ‘You do know you can talk to me about anything.’

‘Thanks.’ She continued to look at the photographs, more to avoid looking at him in case her eyes betrayed her. She slipped out from under his arm. ‘I’d better get back. I’ve got an early start tomorrow and I don’t want to get the sack.’ She had tried for a joke but it fell flat.

‘I’m sure your boss would forgive you,’ said Harry. He caught her arm and gave her a brief kiss. ‘You can trust me, you do know that, don’t you?’

Steph swallowed. ‘Of course.’

‘The same way I can trust you.’

‘Absolutely.’ She smiled, gave him a peck on the cheek and was gone before she crumpled under the weight of her lies.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Harry’s Lodge, Conmere,
Sunday, 12 May, 7.20 p.m.

Harry closed the door as Steph left and gave a big sigh. He had given her the chance to confess about her mother, but she hadn’t taken it. She had chosen to deceive him, to keep the knowledge to herself. To say he felt disappointed was an understatement.

He thumped the closed door with the side of his clenched fist. ‘For fuck’s sake, Steph!’ he shouted. He was reluctant to think she’d come to Conmere with the intention of digging around in his past and yet everything seemed to be pointing straight to that. How the hell had he let himself become involved with her?

He took a quick shower and was towel-drying his hair when there was a loud rap on the front door. Harry opened the door expecting – or was that hoping? – to see Steph there. He was disappointed. Instead, his older brother marched in.

‘Don’t stand on ceremony. Just come right in,’ said Harry sarcastically, pushing the door closed.

‘It’s not like you’ve got any visitors,’ said Dominic.

‘As far as you know.’

‘I just saw Steph Durham go by my place,’ said Dominic. ‘I take it she was here.’

‘None of your business,’ said Harry.

‘That’s a yes, then.’ Dominic flopped down in the chair. ‘What did you find out?’

‘About what?’ Harry knew what Dominic meant, but his brother’s attitude was pissing him off.

‘About what she’s doing here,’ said Dominic, with a trace of impatience. ‘Did you ask her about her mother?’

‘There is nothing to find out,’ said Harry, still feeling a loyalty towards Steph. ‘I’m certain she’s here for genuine reasons. She’s here as a travel writer, a photographer, that’s all.’

‘I don’t know what I’ve got to do to convince you she’s up to no good,’ said Dominic.