He carried the tray outside, and Irena watched through the window as the other men climbed out of the caravan and sat down on the ground to eat and drink. Pouring another cup of tea from the pot, she carried it into the living room and fished Frank’s tablets out of the pot on the mantelpiece before heading up to his room.

The girls would only be allowed water today, and – depending on Karel’s mood when he came back – maybe a slice of toast later in the evening. He believed that depriving them of nourishment speeded up the spirit-breaking process, but Irena doubted they’d be able to stomach much anyway. And once he got them hooked on smack, food would be the last thing on their minds.

Frank was pacing the bedroom floor, but he abruptly stopped when the door opened. Irena walked in, and he saw that the deep shadows that had surrounded her eyes on the night they’d first met had reappeared. She was obviously under pressure, but it was of her own making, so he refused to feel pity for her.

‘What happened to that girl?’ he demanded. ‘I asked your friend, but he wouldn’t tell me anything.’

‘Do not worry about her,’ Irena said, holding out the cup and the foil strip of tablets.

‘How can I not worry?’ Frank snapped, snatching them from her hands. ‘This is my house, in case you’ve forgotten, and it sickens me that this is happening under my roof. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Can’t you hear those poor girls crying in there?’ He jabbed a finger in the direction of the wall. ‘Or don’t you care?’

‘They will settle in time,’ she replied, her gaze dipped.

Frank’s eyebrows knitted together.

‘Is that what you really think, or something you say to make yourself feel better about what you’re doing? Because, I’ve got to tell you, I’m struggling to believe that the Irena I know and lo—’ He choked on the word and swallowed it, before saying, ‘This is pure evil – and you’re evil for going along with it.’

‘I am not evil,’ Irena protested, colour flaring across her cheeks. ‘I am try to protect them.’

‘Bullshit! I heard what Nick did, and you didn’t even try to stop him. Christ, Irena, what the hell happened to make you so cold?’

‘There is only so much I can do. The rest is up to them.’

‘Them being those girls in there, or those thugs you call your friends?’

‘I cannot discuss this with you any more.’

‘Can’t, or won’t?’ Frank asked. Then, holding up his hand before she could answer, he said, ‘You know what, I don’t want to hear it. I thought I knew you, but I was wrong. So, well done, love, you fooled me good and proper. Now get out, because I can’t bear to look at you.’