It seemed odd that Elizabeth would be communicating in such a formal way with the Sinclairs, but maybe she wanted some sort of traceable record to be left. Perhaps Elizabeth had known she was playing a dangerous game and the written correspondence was her security? Which was all well and good if the police had been playing fair.

Steph’s heart dipped. Poor Elizabeth, she hadn’t stood a chance.

Steph took a photograph of the report. Elizabeth must have been after the land. She’d wanted North Meadow sold so she could have access to the funds. A cool three-quarters of a million pounds for each shareholder, less any costs. Steph put the paperwork back in the folder and placed all the files back on the shelf of the safe, arranging them in the same order in which she’d found them.

Taking care to make sure the safe was closed properly and everything was returned to the filing cabinet, Steph closed the drawer and with her makeshift lock picks repeated the process in reverse, leaving the filing cabinet securely shut, and with any luck no one would be any the wiser.

Her palms were sweating and all Steph wanted to do was get back to the safety of her own room. She checked her watch and was surprised to see she’d been in the office for nearly an hour. Soon the breakfast chefs would be getting up to start their shifts.

Steph gave the office a final sweep with the torch beam and, ensuring no one was about, sneaked out and back up to her room. She closed the door and let out a long sigh of relief. A dizziness washed over her and her arms, neck and face were clammy. It was probably the adrenalin rushing around her body, Steph thought. She went into the bathroom and ran the cold tap, splashing her face with the water before wetting her flannel and applying it to the back of her neck. Gradually, she felt her body temperature lower and the giddiness disappear.

As Steph brought her head up and looked at her face in the mirror, it took a moment before she realised something was wrong.

‘Shit!’ Her hand flew to her ear. One of the drop-pearl earrings was missing. She frantically looked all around the bathroom and retraced her steps back to the bedroom door, but it was nowhere to be seen. Oh, hell, what if it had fallen out when she was in the office?

Chapter Thirty-Two

Two Years Earlier,
Travelodge, Near Kendalton, 24 September, 12.30 p.m.

Elizabeth slipped back into the double bed next to Dominic, who was looking at his phone.

‘Sorry,’ he said, glancing up. ‘Just got to reply to this email. Don’t want anyone to think I’m slacking off.’

Elizabeth snuggled up to him and trailed a finger across his chest. ‘I don’t think anyone can accuse you of slacking off.’ She gave a satisfied sigh.