‘So, what brought you to the arsehole of nowhere?’ Dawn asked as she balanced herself. ‘Is your dad making a movie out here?’

Morgan’s face tightened as she gave a brief shake of the head. ‘My stepmum wanted to move from the city. She thought it would be good for us.’

‘And you don’t?’

‘No flies on you, Sherlock.’ Morgan’s tone was flat. She didn’t want to talk about Naomi. The very thought of her put a dampener on things.

Dawn emitted a soft chuckle, stubbing out the cigarette with the heel of her boot. ‘You know about Ivy Cottage, don’t you? What happened there?’

‘If you’re talking about the Harpers then yeah, I do. That’s the real reason my crime-loving stepmum dragged us all here. Selfish cow.’ The words slipped so effortlessly from her lips, and her blush rose. So much for putting on a positive front.

‘C’mon.’ Dawn slipped her hand into Morgan’s. ‘I want to show you something.’

Taking a quick look over her shoulder, she darted down a side alleyway. Breaking into a trot, Morgan kept up with her, her heart beating double time. But it wasn’t from the exercise, it was from the warmth of Dawn’s hand.

‘Where are you taking me?’ Morgan said, losing sight of the village as they followed a path towards the church. But Dawn just flashed her a smile, her brunette ponytail bouncing as she jogged.

As they reached the churchyard, Dawn released her hand. Morgan followed her to a small memorial plaque that peeped up from the lawn. It was semi-hidden from view in the far corner of the graveyard, which bordered a stream. The sound of the babbling water brought a sense of peace to the place. Morgan forced herself to appear nonchalant as she traced her fingertips over the gold inscription in faded granite. Susan, Martin and Grace. Always in our thoughts.

‘It’s a memorial for the Harpers,’ Dawn explained, her hands deep in her dungaree pockets. ‘Very few people know it’s here. Now you share a secret with the rest of us.’

‘But they’re missing, aren’t they? Not dead.’ Morgan gazed around the graveyard. It was a well-cared-for place, surrounded by tidy hedge plants and bare rose bushes that were waiting for the sun.

‘It’s been ten years.’ Dawn arched a slim eyebrow. ‘Seems pretty likely they’re not coming back.’

‘What do you think happened to them?’ Morgan said, her heart returning to a regular beat. The palm of her hand still tingled from the sudden, unexpected contact.

‘Aw now,’ Dawn chuckled. ‘I’ll have to know you a bit better to tell you that.’ She slipped her hand back into Morgan’s as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

‘Where are you taking me now?’ Morgan was enjoying this new sense of wonderment. Perhaps it wasn’t so bad here after all.