‘Of course it is! I bet you thought you’d butter me up first, get me to admit to being your father, then you’d stick the knife in and see what you could get out of me. How much did you think your silence would be worth?’

‘It’s not like that! I’m not after your money,’ Sarah protested, but she could see Ron wasn’t listening.

‘Yes, you’re bound to say that, aren’t you? You’re hardly likely to admit that you’re in this for what you can get out of me. I’ve been in this job for thirty-odd years and I’ve met plenty of people like you before. You’re a nasty piece of work, just like your slag of a mother,’ he said angrily as he brought his fist down hard on the table.

Sarah gasped. The sudden thud had made her jump. Her father’s face was twisted in fury, though he couldn’t have been further from the truth. She could see he was never going to accept her as his daughter, and now she was becoming frightened of the man. ‘No, you’re very wrong. I would never do that and I wish I hadn’t come here now,’ she said as her tears dried, only to be replaced with anger and fear. Yes, her mother had been a tart, but at least she’d tried, which was more than could be said for her father. She stood up and pushed her shoulders back defiantly. ‘You’ve got it all wrong.’

‘No, I think you’ll find it’s you who’s got it wrong,’ Ron answered quietly as he looked at her through slitted eyes.

‘I’m sorry you feel this way,’ Sarah said. ‘If you want nothing to do with me, fine. I’d like to leave now.’

Without saying a word, she followed Ron back through to reception. He held the main entrance door open, and as Sarah walked through, he covertly grabbed her arm and squeezed tightly. She felt his breath on her cheek as she heard him whisper, ‘Keep your mouth shut about what you think you know, or else you’ll regret it.’

Sarah put on a show of bravado and threw him a look of disdain as she yanked her arm from his grip. She hurried down the steps and dashed around the corner from the police station, but once out of sight she stopped and leaned forward with her hands on her thighs as she gasped in lungfuls of fresh air.

She could hardly believe what had just transpired. He’d threatened her, and now she thought it was a good job that he’d left her mum. She dreaded to think what sort of life her mother would have had with such a vile man, and thoughts of Mo’s violent father came into her mind.