‘What?’ she said, her voice shaky. She watched Connie’s expression soften as she scrutinised her from the doorway. Morgan cursed herself for looking so scared. She turned, bowing her head as she spooned chocolate powder into the steaming hot milk.

‘Was that you outside my bedroom?’ Connie’s flimsy camisole and satin dressing gown were not cut out for the wind rising to a crescendo outside.

‘I’ve not been near your door.’ Morgan stirred the contents of her mug and threw the spoon into the sink.

‘Hmm,’ Connie murmured, her hand shooting across the doorway as Morgan tried to sidle past. ‘Look . . .’ Connie stared her down. ‘I know things have been tough for you—’

‘You know nothing.’ Morgan spoke between clenched teeth as her pulse picked up pace.

‘I know a hell of a lot more than you do about the situation,’ Connie retorted.

‘Bullshit,’ Morgan spat. ‘I’m only here because your sister broke up my parents’ marriage.’

Another whoop of wind. The roof tiles clattered as they fought the storm.

Connie stared at Morgan incredulously before blurting a laugh. ‘Naomi didn’t break them up. Your mum did.’

Morgan’s fingers tightened around the mug. The only thing stopping her from throwing it in Connie’s face was the fact that she was a cop.

Connie continued, her nostrils flaring. ‘Remember your dad’s stalker? I oversaw the case.’

Morgan could hardly forget the troll who had tormented her dad for months. The online messages, the social media posts, the hate mail and then the parcels of dog dirt delivered through their door.

‘Good for you,’ Morgan said, her face pinched. What did she want – thanks?

But Connie’s hand remained rigid as Morgan tried to push past. ‘That troll . . . that person who made your dad’s life hell. It was your mum.’

Morgan’s head span at the news. It couldn’t be true. And yet everything locked together like pieces of a puzzle. Harmony was protective over her computer, and she was always acting odd.

‘You’re lying,’ she said, with more conviction than she felt.

‘I wish that was the end of it.’ Connie sighed. ‘Your mum pulled a knife on Naomi when she confronted her. The only reason she wasn’t arrested was because Naomi wanted to let things lie.’ She dropped her hand from the doorway. ‘She was there to talk about shared care. But when your mum threatened her with a breadknife, your dad went for full access. That’s when Harmony went on holiday.’

‘No,’ Morgan said, her voice faint. ‘Dad only took me because Mum fell off that balcony . . . He had no choice.’

Connie shook her head. ‘Your dad applied for full custody long before that. Your mum wouldn’t give him access. It was going through the courts.’

Morgan felt like she’d been punched in the gut. All this time, her dad was trying to protect her from the horrible truth. How wrong she had been.