‘Good, I’ve caught you before you’ve started work.’ Wendy got straight to the point. ‘I need to speak to you before you see any of the Sinclairs. Are you awake properly?’

‘Yes. What’s going on?’ Steph swung her legs out of bed and planted her feet on the floor, pulling her fleece jacket around her shoulders. ‘I’m wide awake. What’s up?’

‘I didn’t say anything before but I had a phone call from Harry Sinclair. He’s concerned to say the least that you’re getting too involved with Sonia Lomas and the death of his wife.’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake.’ Steph pushed her hair from her face.

‘He had every right. It’s his business and you’re causing problems.’

‘If I’m causing problems it’s because they’re hiding things.’ Steph pushed her arms into her jacket. ‘Look, Mum, I’ve found out a few things about the Sinclairs.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I found out that Dominic Sinclair is dealing in drugs.’

‘What?’

‘I saw him and then I went and had a look for myself. He’s storing them in the boathouse. I don’t know what do to.’ For some reason she held back from telling Wendy about the recording.

‘Now, listen to me, Stephanie. You are not to tell the police. You are not to get involved in anything. I want you to pack your bags and go straight to Brighton, like I said yesterday.’

‘I can’t do that,’ said Steph, annoyed her mother was still trying to tell her what to do. ‘Did you hear what I said? There are class A drugs, a lot of them, on the Sinclair premises. Owen is a user. I saw that for myself. Both he and Dominic are involved. I can’t ignore that.’ She hesitated before she added, ‘And if they’re involved, then I wouldn’t be surprised if Harry is too.’ She hated herself for saying it but it seemed a logical thought process, even though it hurt her. It would mean she couldn’t have anything to do with Harry, not now – no matter how she felt about him, she wasn’t about to get involved with a drug dealer.

‘They are dangerous people,’ replied Wendy, with an insistency Steph hadn’t heard before. ‘Do not do anything to upset them. Leave there immediately.’

A feeling of dread walked its way up Steph’s arms, causing goose pimples to pucker her skin. Her stomach clenched and her heart threw in an extra beat as a tiny voice in the back of her mind started to push its way to the fore. She didn’t want to acknowledge it – she had tried to ignore it, to reason it away, but there was no shutting herself off from it now. She swallowed hard as she prepared herself to speak.