“Tuesday was my birthday. A bunch of us from head office and a few of the Equality Committee people got together and went out for dinner, then on to a club in Sheffield. I was going to ask you, but you were going to the Scots/Irish night. Afterwards, we went back to Mandy Martin’s room in Maclintock Tower for a drink. When I left and got into the lift, it must have gone up instead of down, but I was a bit drunk, so I didn’t pay attention. When the lift stopped, I stepped out, and that’s when I realized I wasn’t where I should have been. Before I could do anything about it, the doors closed and the lift went down without me. I pressed the button, but before it came back, that slimeball Tom Jack came lurching round the corner. I was wearing a red sequinned off-the-shoulder cocktail dress, so I suppose when the News of the World get hold of the tale, it’ll all be my fault!” Pauline gave a bitter laugh.

“Tell me about it,” Sophie said with feeling. “Surgeons get so used to thinking about people as pieces of meat, they forget women have the right to say no.”

“Anyway, he leered at me, then jumped me. I know I look pretty big and strong, but just because I work out doesn’t mean I know how to fight. And like I said, I was a bit pissed. He started smacking me about the head, giving me all the stuff about how I was just a black slag, a whore . . .” She tailed off and sighed deeply.

“I’m sure we can fill in the blanks,” Sophie said reassuringly.

“Don’t be so sure of that,” Pauline snapped back. “Believe me, being working class and black gives you access to a whole new range of insults. Shit, just remembering it makes me boil up inside.” It took a visible effort for her to regain a grip on herself, but she managed it.

“He grabbed me by my hair, and dragged me away from the lift. Do you know, I didn’t even think about screaming? Isn’t that crazy?”

“It happens more often that you’d think,” Sophie said. “I’ve had patients who were raped who have said exactly the same thing.”

“He tried the first couple of doors, but they were locked. Then a door opened and he dragged me into the room. All the time, he was kicking at me, slapping me with his free hand and pouring out all this foul abuse. It was like hate was flowing out of him all over me.” Pauline’s hands clenched and the muscles in her jaw bunched tightly at the memory.