‘Harry, before I say anything else, I want you to know that my feelings for you are genuine. I don’t know how you feel about me, whether you really like me or if you’re just trying to find out about me, I don’t know.’

‘You’ve got a bloody cheek,’ snapped Harry. ‘It’s me who should be asking you if you’re genuine, but how can I actually believe anything you say when you’ve already lied to me?’

‘I have not lied to you,’ she snapped back. ‘I avoided answering your questions for that very reason, because I didn’t want to lie to you.’

‘That’s very noble of you.’ Harry slow handclapped. ‘I’m supposed to be thankful, am I?’ He took a step closer to her. ‘You may not have lied, but you’ve not told the whole truth and you’ve purposely deceived me. In my book, that’s just as bad.’

‘OK, I didn’t want to tell you about my mother because of everything that was associated with her. If I told you I only found out myself last week that she was involved with the case, you probably wouldn’t believe me.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier when you had the chance?’

Steph looked away, but not before he caught a glimpse of a tear in her eye. He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her it didn’t matter, but the truth was, it did matter. It changed everything.

‘I was avoiding telling you,’ she said quietly. ‘I knew I should, but I didn’t want it to affect things between us. That’s the same reason I didn’t tell you about Sonia Lomas either.’

‘I want to believe that, Steph, I really do. But I’m having a hard time doing so. Look at it from my point of view: you came here already friends with Sonia and your mother was the investigating officer into Elizabeth’s death. And you’re a journalist – what am I supposed to think?’

‘I’m not actually a journalist,’ said Steph. ‘I’m a travel writer and a photographer.’

‘You’re just splitting hairs. And you’re not denying it.’

‘It’s not looking very good for me, I know,’ said Steph. ‘But believe me, you and me, it’s genuine and separate to everything else.’

‘You may be able to separate the two, but I don’t think I can.’ He wanted to pace the room, but there wasn’t enough space. ‘How come you and Sonia were in the car together?’

‘She wanted to talk to me.’