A spider scuttled out of the hearth, zigzagging to a colder spot in the room. Above her, dusty cobwebs hung low. Seriously, what had possessed them to bring her to this place? Taking a calming breath, Morgan inhaled the sweet woody smell of timber burning down. It was an improvement on the damp, at least. After waiting for a moment, she followed them out of the living room and into the dim hall. Holding her breath, she pressed her ear against the chipped paint of her father’s bedroom door.

‘It’s Harmony,’ she heard him say. ‘She’s gone. Did a runner from the private clinic.’

Morgan grimaced as she heard the news. Why was he keeping this from her? Wrapping her fingers around the doorknob, she was about to burst in when an inner voice spoke. Wait, it said, at the back of her mind. It was Taz, or at least, it was her imagining what he would say. Wait and see what this is all about.

‘She’s gone?’ Naomi’s voice echoed around the sparsely furnished bedroom. ‘Where?’

‘If I knew that, I wouldn’t be panicking.’ He sighed in exasperation. ‘She left without taking her medication. She’s not well.’ Heavy footsteps shuffled back and forth, and Morgan guessed her father was pacing the room.

‘What about that boyfriend of hers, can’t he help?’ Naomi asked.

Morgan’s fists tightened. Trust Naomi to say that. Apart from Morgan, her mum was alone in the world.

‘They broke up, remember?’ Ed replied in a low voice. ‘I might have to go up there . . . check her old haunts.’

‘What about us?’ Naomi replied. ‘The furniture’s coming tomorrow, and I . . . well, I don’t want to be left here alone.’

Morgan listened as her father paused. He wasn’t going to change his mind, was he?

‘Nothing’s definite yet. Besides, the moving firm will sort out the furniture and unpack the boxes . . . You’re not frightened, are you?’ Ed teased. ‘Is that what it is? My city girl is scared of the dark.’

‘Don’t be silly.’ A smile carried on Naomi’s voice. ‘Besides, I can call my sister if I want company.’

‘So, what’s the problem?’ Ed countered.

Naomi answered instantly. ‘It feels like you’re running out on me. I don’t want you to go.’

Morgan sneered at the sound of Naomi’s babyish voice – the one she used when things weren’t going her way. Strong women shouldn’t need to resort to talking like children to get what they wanted in life.

‘Aww, sweetie, c’mon,’ Ed replied. ‘I don’t want to go. It’s just, I’m worried about what she’ll do. I’ve taken Morgan and now she’s got nobody. You know how she gets.’

‘Oh, I know what she’s capable of, which is why it’s a bad idea,’ Naomi said in hushed tones. ‘What if she hurts you?’