‘They took their own lives, sadly.’

‘It’s not sad,’ Callie said with conviction. ‘They controlled us. The doctor played with our minds and then offered a “solution” to anyone who thought her life had no purpose. I didn’t get it to start with. I didn’t understand the allusions to an alternative, even though Hannah practically spelled it out to me. The doctor was always talking about whether I was any use to the world, and if I wasn’t, then why should I take up space. I think he convinced some women to take the easy way out – a clean and painless death when they ceased to dance to his tune. They could hardly allow them to return to the real world, could they? For some of the poor souls, it was the best option. To be honest, if I’d had to stay there for much longer, I think it might have become my choice too. I wonder how many he helped to die?’

‘We know of two, but there may be more from his days as a practising psychiatrist. We’re going to have to go through records from years ago, and that will take time.’

Callie slumped back in the chair, her burst of energy spent.

‘It’s over now, Callie. You can go home and forget all of this.’

Callie’s face closed in. ‘Not really. What about Ian? You’re going to have to let him out – I get that – but how am I going to get rid of him?’

Becky felt for the girl. This is where it had all begun: Ian refusing to leave, not contributing in any way, threatening Callie and making her life miserable.

‘Although his emails were threatening, he didn’t actually say he was going to kill you. If he had, we would have been able to charge him with threats to kill, and a judge could issue a restraining order. But without that we can’t, I’m afraid. I think you’re going to have to get an injunction, but that can take time.’

Callie’s eyes flooded with tears. ‘I don’t want to see him again. Not ever. You don’t know him. He’ll be the one feeling hard done by. He’ll see himself as the victim, and it will all be my fault. He’s not going to listen to reason, and if you can’t stop him from coming back, what chance have I got?’

Becky knew that the hands of the police were tied. All they could do was offer support.