‘Fine, fine,’ Malcolm says, holding the tray out to Safa. ‘It is much better . . . me, Ben and Kon got some good ideas for the main room and other sections . . . and did Ben tell you what the doc said about the meds?’

‘Yeah, just told them, mate,’ Ben says.

‘We didn’t know,’ Malcolm says, offering an apologetic wince at Harry and Safa. ‘Anyway, we’ll leave you to it. We’re popping into the city for an hour, Ben. Need anything?’

‘Nah, it’s fine. See you later.’

‘Thanks,’ Harry says as Malcolm leaves.

‘Right,’ Safa says, fixing Ben with a firm look that immediately makes him squirm. ‘Elephant in the room.’

‘Eh?’ Ben asks.

‘What elephant?’ Harry asks, looking round.

‘I’ll just come out with it,’ Safa says, looking at Ben. ‘Get it behind us now . . .’

‘Oh,’ Ben groans. ‘Don’t . . .’

‘What?’ Harry asks.

‘Steph,’ Safa says.

‘Bollocks,’ Ben mutters.

‘Oh,’ Harry says. ‘That.’

‘Well?’ she asks. ‘You over it?’

‘Safa,’ Ben groans and shifts at her penetrating gaze as Harry eases subtly back on his armchair to disengage from the conversation.

‘Are you?’ she demands.

‘Guess so,’ Ben says quietly, looking away.

‘Harry, close your ears for a second. She was a fucking bitch, Ben. An absolute nasty, cold, money-grabbing whore bitch shit-head fucking bitch . . .’

‘Okay . . .’ Ben mumbles.

‘I haven’t finished. She was a dirty, nasty, fucking bitch. Harry, really close your ears now . . .’

‘Closed.’

‘She was a cunt.’

‘Safa!’ Ben and Harry exclaim, but she just glares without a trace of apology.

‘And I hate that word,’ she adds emphatically. ‘So for me to use it means she really was a cunt . . .’

‘Yes, alright,’ Ben says quickly.

‘Oh, you don’t know,’ she says darkly. ‘You were dead.’

‘Yes, yes I was,’ he mumbles, slightly alarmed.

‘Honestly, there are two people in this world . . . our world . . . the old world . . . anyway, there are two people I hate. Like really hate. To the point I would actually murder them and sleep soundly, and she is one . . .’

‘Christ,’ Ben mumbles again and looks at Harry, who pretends he’s not there.

‘Seriously,’ she continues. ‘She tried to ruin what you did . . . what you did twice. You did it twice and she tried to take it all away from you. Did Harry tell you she knew you were Ben Ryder?’

‘Er, I think so . . . I don’t remember all of it but I got the gist,’ Ben says with a frown as he tries to think back.

‘She said you raped her.’

‘I didn’t,’ Ben says, his tone instantly hardening.

‘Oh, fuck off,’ she tuts. ‘I know you bloody didn’t. Everyone knows you didn’t.’

‘Huh?’