‘There’s nothing to tell,’ said Harry, not hiding his impatience. ‘You investigated Elizabeth’s death. You know that.’ Wendy didn’t answer and this made Harry feel uneasy. ‘You’re the one who said it was an accident.’

‘That’s right, I did,’ said Wendy, eventually. ‘There was no evidence to suggest otherwise.’

He didn’t like the way she said that. It sounded too textbook. Too rehearsed. ‘I’ll look after Steph. I’ll do everything I can to make sure she’s safe.’

‘And I’m supposed to trust a Sinclair?’

‘You have my word.’

‘That doesn’t reassure me.’

The line went dead and Harry was left staring at the receiver. Why the hell hadn’t Steph said anything about being run off the road or the house brick? She obviously didn’t trust him. Shit. This wasn’t good. He slammed the phone down in the cradle and slumped back in the chair.

‘Knock, knock.’ Pru tapped the door lightly with her knuckles and looked round into the office. ‘Oh, it’s you, Harry. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. I saw the light on and assumed it was Heidi. Is everything all right?’

Harry forced a smile to his face and sat forward, closing the file on the computer. ‘Yes, everything is fine, Mum. I was just checking up on a few things. Nothing to worry about.’ He rose from the chair.

‘Are you sure? Only both Dominic and Owen seem a little preoccupied at the moment. In fact, Dominic was particularly bad-tempered this morning.’

Harry gave a shrug. ‘If it was important I’m sure they’d have told you, and Dominic was probably just in a bad mood. I shouldn’t pay any attention to either of them.’ Harry hoped he had soothed his mother’s concerns.

‘He said something about Steph still being here. I don’t think he likes her very much. Unlike you.’ She gave him a pointed look.

Harry held in a sigh of frustration. Dominic really should keep his thoughts to himself, especially in front of their mother, who never missed anything. ‘OK, I like her,’ he admitted, as there was no point trying to pretend otherwise. ‘But it’s complicated. She’s based in the UK and I’m based in France.’

‘Why doesn’t Dominic like her?’

‘Honestly, Mum,’ he said, aware of the irony of his opening word, ‘I don’t know. And I don’t really care what Dominic thinks. She is none of his business.’

‘I found an earring belonging to Steph.’

‘You did?’ Harry sensed there was more to come.

‘I knew it was hers, because it’s a beautiful drop-pearl. Quite expensive, I should imagine, not throw-away tat. I found it in here, actually. On the floor by the cupboard.’

‘In here? That’s an odd place to find her earring.’