‘He’s pathetic. He’s not the one to worry about. Look, I haven’t really got anything else to tell you, other than, whatever Elizabeth was doing, whatever her reasons for blackmailing Owen, it was something big. She had a bigger agenda, I’m sure. She didn’t confide in me, but I’ve seen women like her before. They’re ambitious. They always want more than what they’ve got. And Elizabeth, she had a plan to dominate that family and there’s only one way you can do that.’

Steph looked at her expectantly, hoping Camilla was going to say more, but she didn’t. Steph took a guess. ‘Money?’

‘Not just money. Power.’

‘Power over the Sinclairs?’

‘Well done. We got there in the end.’ Camilla drained the rest of her glass. ‘I need to go. Good luck and be careful.’

‘Thanks and thank you for talking to me.’ Steph watched Camilla put on her jacket and stand to leave. ‘I hope everything works out for you. Take care.’

‘Ditto.’

Steph’s Room, Conmere House,
Tuesday, 14 May, 9.45 p.m.

Steph looked at the notebook in front of her, confident it had more secrets to yield. It was all there, she just didn’t know what she was looking for.

Camilla had been certain Elizabeth’s ambition was much bigger than just blackmailing Owen for a few pounds. From what Steph had learnt of Harry’s wife, she was of the same opinion. Elizabeth had come from nothing and wanted everything. She was an intelligent woman and wouldn’t easily be put off her quest for not just success money-wise, but for power too.

It must have something to do with Conmere; it seemed the most obvious answer … maybe something to do with the business itself. Looking at the pages with a fresh agenda, Steph slowly leafed through them, looking for anything that could relate to Conmere.

After several minutes of careful searching, Steph hit gold. It was amazing how something could be hidden in plain sight. Now she knew what she was looking for, it was there, staring right back at her. A couple of months before the last entry in the notebook and just one line, but it was there. The words ‘Comp. Hs.’, followed by a number.

‘Companies House,’ said Steph, out loud.

She called up the website of Companies House and tapped in the number. It was no surprise at all when it came back with the result of ‘Conmere Enterprises Ltd’. Steph clicked on the information, and the directors were listed as Pru, Dominic, Harry and Owen. So Harry was still a director – that was interesting. She was under the impression he had left the business, but obviously he hadn’t left it officially.