‘It’s a coffee cake today,’ Sophie said to fill the heavy silence.

‘If it’s as good as your other cakes, I can’t wait to taste it.’

She made him a mug of coffee and cut a slice of cake. ‘Would you like a piece, Andi?’ But her daughter shook her head and continued to scowl at them.

‘What’s the problem, Jez?’ Sophie slid into a place next to him and resisted the temptation to take hold of his hand.

‘This. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we thought you should know.’ He passed over the newspaper.

She read it, exclaiming in disgust at the veiled innuendos about Andi, her work at the club, and the ‘possible assault’ that had happened. The next article asked pointedly whether today’s revealing fashions were inciting violence against young women and invited readers to contact the paper and give their views.

She looked at her daughter. ‘It’s about the attack on you.’

‘What?’ Andi read the article, burst into tears and ran out. Her footsteps pounded on the stairs and the door to her bedroom slammed hard enough to rattle the nearby windows.

‘Is he allowed to write that sort of thing about a case that’s still under investigation?’ Sophie asked.

Jez picked up the paper, smoothing it out. ‘He treads on thin ice at times, but he usually stays just the right side of the law. It’s better to ignore him than sue. He thrives on attention and writes more articles about that. I did sue him once and win, and he’s never forgiven me for it, which is why he hounds me, I think. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring this sort of thing down on you. Or on Andi when she’s so vulnerable.’

‘Did you know what had happened to her?’

‘In broad terms. One of Kevin’s contacts. He keeps an eye on everyone connected to me, you see.’

‘Oh.’ She let Jez take her hand, then gave in to temptation and leaned against him with a sigh.

‘Has it been bad?’

‘Very. She’s dreadfully upset, as you’d expect, tearful one minute, snapping at me the next. She’d been drugged and can’t remember anything. That makes it worse, somehow. They not only violated her body, but her mind.’

‘She needs professional help.’

‘I know. I’m going to find someone. But I’m not sure Andi will take up the offer of help.’

‘Let me find someone for you. It’s something I can do for you.’ He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her. Not a long kiss, not at all passionate, the sort of kiss her husband would have given her if she was in trouble, exactly the sort of kiss she needed just now.

‘Can’t keep your hands off one another, can you?’

They swung round to see Andi standing in the doorway, glaring at them. Neither had heard her come downstairs again.

‘Your mother’s upset,’ Jez said mildly. ‘If you can’t see the difference between a supportive kiss and a passionate one—’