Marty did as he was bidden and Kerry took it gratefully. But as Skip explained to her what they wanted, she gradually began to feel a numb fear.

Evander listened to Skip’s gloating voice, wishing himself anywhere in the world but in this dirty little room. As he watched Kerry’s eyes widen with fear and the realisation of what was happening, he felt sick inside himself.

Twenty-five thousand dollars was a lot of money. But was it really worth all this? When did this get so out of hand? When did it become so dirty, and so shaming?

As Skip had played back the tape Kerry’s mouth had opened and shut, like a fish out of water, gasping for life. Now she knew why he had asked her three times why she had named her child Liselle for his mother. Why he had repeatedly asked her about their life together. It was for this. Even in her drunken, drugged state she saw what a fool she’d been. She’d wanted to right wrongs when the biggest wrong was being done to her!

She started to laugh, a low chuckle at first. Then, as all became crystal clear, it turned into a full-throated belly laugh. Four pairs of eyes watched her in amazement.

‘You can give this to anyone you like. The newspapers, anyone. I couldn’t give a monkey’s fuck!’ Her voice was shrill. ‘I ain’t ashamed any more. I don’t care. My baby knows now. She knows. Once she knew about this, it was blown wide open. You did all this for nothing ... nothing!’

Skip gave her a stinging blow across the mouth. But still she laughed.

‘Go on, beat me up! Nothing you can do to me can really hurt me, because I’ve been hurting all my life.’

But the laughter was gone from her voice now.

Skip, seeing his well-laid plans go awry, took her at her word. He began to lay into her with heavy fists. Evander stumbled across the room, his useless hands clawing at the man attacking Kerry. The two younger men watched with morbid fascination. Evander turned to them.

‘You fools! She’s famous ... If you really hurt her, you’ll all be finished.’

His voice persuaded the other two. They began pulling Skip off her, dragging him from the room as he hurled abuse at Kerry, at them and at Evander. They pulled him into the kitchen and tried to calm him down.

Evander went to Kerry. Her mouth and one eye were bleeding profusely. Her arms were crossed defensively. Pulling her into his arms, he held her close, sorry to the core for what he had brought on her.