Sharon Scott looked at the man who had often made her feel uneasy but who had also been a great father to Lenny and grandfather to her boys. He was now her enemy, but she had to box clever. She said, as placatingly as possible, ‘Please, Len. Will you go?’

Big Lenny was staring at her. She had bewitched him. He fantasised about having sex with her, about them living as man and wife, about having her whenever he wanted her. In the fantasy, though, she was a willing participant. She was groaning with pleasure and egging him on to bigger and better performances. But the reality was very different.

‘I am warning you, Len. If you don’t go I am going to tell Lesley what’s going on.’

He continued to stare at her and she felt fear washing over her.

‘I’m not joking. Reggie and Ray already know what the score is—’

It was hearing Ray’s name that seemed to send Big Lenny over the edge. His hand shot out and he grabbed the front of her dressing gown, pulling her towards him and causing it to fall open. She was naked underneath but before he knew what had happened, she had slipped out of the sleeves and was making a run for the back door. He was on her in seconds and, when he forced her to the floor, she could feel the coldness of the wood, and the pain as he lay on top of her. She was fighting not just with fear but also with disgust. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, and the sweat from his body. It was making her gag.

As he held her arms above her head with one large hand, he shoved her legs open with his knee, all the time fumbling with his zipper, and she screamed out. He was forcing himself inside her. With one last surge of strength she bucked her hips and forced him off her. She turned, bringing her knee up with all her might, and caught him perfectly. Now it was he who was screaming in pain.

As he rolled away from her she was up and running. She ran up her stairs and didn’t stop until she was in her bedroom. She locked the door and picked up the phone.

She rang Jack Johnson, assuming rightly that he was the best person at this time. Ray would do murder. As would Reggie. As would her father.

As she whispered urgently into the phone she could hear Big Lenny coming up the stairs and she was almost hysterical with fear. She could still smell him on her. It was making her want to vomit. She placed a chair under the handle of the door and then ran into the en-suite bathroom, locking that door behind her. She stood there shivering in fear as she waited to see what was going to happen next.

Chapter One Hundred and Eleven