‘You can arrange for Dawn to come and see us after we’ve called the police. They won’t hurt her, but I can’t say the same for us.’

Morgan settled back in her seat. ‘What did she say? Something’s spooked the hell out of you.’

Naomi’s nails dug into the leather steering wheel. She was way in over her head. This wasn’t just some case she was reporting – this was a matter of life and death. Foolishly, she’d thought she was strong enough to protect them. But she had waded into a situation she was not equipped for. Lloyd needed to be stopped, but there was no arguing with a gun. Her pulse rapid, she glanced at her stepdaughter. What would Ed do?

‘They’re dead, aren’t they?’ Morgan said, seemingly reading her thoughts. ‘Dawn said that Lloyd is in on it. So is Joanne. Even the vicar is covering it up.’ She glared at Naomi, daring her to meet her gaze.

The car was warm and toasty, but the atmosphere between them cooled. Morgan’s loyalty was veering towards the young woman that she barely knew.

Naomi exhaled in relief as the road leading to Ivy Cottage came into view. ‘Grab enough things for an overnight stay. We’ll send for the rest.’

‘No.’ Morgan folded her arms, her chin dipping stubbornly to her chest. ‘I’m not going. Not until you tell me what Petunia said.’

Naomi had been open with Morgan about the Harpers, keeping her informed about her investigation to date. But now Naomi knew the truth, she was scared. Morgan was just a teenager. Could she handle it?

They bumped along the private road, shrouded by trees. It was unsettling, how quickly the light evaporated in this part of the forest. A herd of deer fled deep into the woods, spooked by the rumble of the car. Morgan sat hunched in silent protest beside her stepmother, sulking.

‘All right.’ Naomi exhaled an exasperated breath. She knew when she was beat. The most important thing was for them both to get away from here, and for that, she needed compliance. She tried to swallow, but her throat felt constricted, her mouth dry. ‘It’s Lloyd. He had a thing for Grace, the Harper girl . . .’ She let the words linger. It disgusted her to say it aloud.

‘So it’s true, he’s some kind of paedo?’ Morgan’s face soured. She pulled her mobile from her pocket, no doubt waiting to hear from Dawn.

‘Seems that way.’ Naomi dropped the car into a lower gear. At least Morgan hadn’t asked her to go into detail. ‘Don’t text anyone,’ she warned. ‘Not yet.’