The scene made him stop in his tracks, and he stared at the bed in horror. He’d expected there to be bodily fluids on the sheet, but what he hadn’t expected was blood. And there wasn’t only a bit, there was a lot. It was everywhere . . . on the sheets, the headboard, even on the wall; and there was a thin trail on the carpet leading from the bed to the door.

Heart pounding, he stepped back onto the landing and peered down over the bannister rail. He could hear the men talking in the kitchen, but nobody was in the hallway, so he tiptoed back down to the bathroom and tapped quietly on the door. The water stopped, and he whispered, ‘Irena . . . it’s me. Are you OK?’

No answer came, but he heard what sounded like a groan.

‘I know you’re probably too scared to talk, but I’m worried about you,’ he whispered, his lips pressed up against the wood. ‘If you can hear me, just tap once to let me know you’re OK. Can you do that?’

A few seconds passed, and then a tiny tap came through the wood.

‘Thank God,’ he murmured, releasing a shaky breath. Then, aware that he didn’t have much time, he said, ‘Karel and the girl have gone out with those men, and Nick and Gaz will be taking the other girls to work soon. The rest of them are drinking in the kitchen, but they’ll probably go out to the caravan when the others have gone, so if you want to talk . . . well, you know where I’ll be. OK?’

Another pause, and then another tiny tap. About to speak again, Frank changed his mind and rushed back to his room when he heard footsteps in the hall.

Nick strolled into the doorway a few seconds later and shook his head as he eyed the blood.

‘What a mess, eh? You’d think the fat fuck’d have a bit more consideration, considering how long he’s been waiting to get another shot at our Reeny. But that’s Arabs for you. No fuckin’ manners.’

Sick to his stomach, Frank didn’t reply; he just grabbed a corner of the sheet and started tugging it off. When Nick pulled the door shut and locked it, Frank tossed the ruined sheet into the corner. The blood had soaked through to the mattress beneath, so he covered it with the towel before putting the clean sheet over it. His pillows and quilt had been dumped on the chair, so he propped the pillows against the headboard to cover the blood, and threw the quilt over the sheet.