As the telephone behind the counter rang, Joanne sprang into action, and the hum of chatter resumed. Coffee was drunk, cakes savoured. Had Morgan imagined the change?

‘Why?’ she asked Dawn, her head bowed.

‘Because I’ve told you before . . .’ Another glance around the room. Sighing, Dawn cupped her mouth with her hand. ‘It’s not safe.’

Joanne was hunched over as she spoke on the phone. It seemed like a private conversation as she turned her back on them.

‘Why?’ Morgan shifted her chair so she was facing away from the other customers. At least they had a corner table.

‘I can’t talk. Not here,’ Dawn whispered. ‘They think I’m one of them, but I’m not. All this time . . .’ She picked up a table menu and shielded her face. ‘I’ve been spying on you, reporting back. Sorry.’ Morgan caught sight of tears in Dawn’s eyes. ‘It’s the only way they’d allow me to see you. You’re either on their side or you’re . . .’ She pursed her lips, her chin trembling beneath the weight of her admission.

‘Babe,’ Morgan said softly. ‘Tell me. I want to help.’

Swallowing back her tears, Dawn glanced around the room. ‘The other night, when we did the Ouija board . . . I tried to tell you then. It’s not safe here. Don’t trust anyone, especially not Lloyd. He has history. He’s dangerous. And as for her . . .’ She gave Joanne a sideways glance. ‘She’s watching . . . always watching.’

‘What about your dad? Does he know what’s going on?’ Struggling to contain her emotions, Morgan squeezed Dawn’s hand. She was way out of her depth.

‘He’s in on it. They all are.’ Dawn brushed her tears away with her sleeve. ‘Just go and don’t look back. Get out of Nighbrook before you get hurt.’

‘Then come with me,’ Morgan whispered, sensing Joanne’s phone call was coming to an end.

‘How?’ Dawn replied. ‘I’m not allowed to leave. And if we tell the cops, my dad will go to jail.’

Morgan stared at her, aghast. This was like something out of one of her father’s movies. It all felt very surreal.

‘Go to jail for what?’ she said in a harsh whisper. But the look on Dawn’s face told her Joanne was approaching.

‘Everything all right, ladies?’ The woman sounded creepily cheerful as she stood over them both.

‘Not really,’ Dawn replied. ‘Morgan’s leaving Nighbrook. We were just saying goodbye.’

Morgan’s heartbeat spiked as Dawn so effortlessly delivered the lie. She didn’t trust herself to speak.

‘Oh.’ Joanne looked from one to the other. ‘I’ll leave you to it then. But Dawn . . . I do need you back to work soon.’

Why? Morgan thought. There were only a few people left in the coffee shop.