An hour later he saw the headlights of a car coming up the road. The curtains were back. He had opened the window to let in some air. Skip, calmer now, was still in the kitchen, trying to salvage part of his plan. Marty sat in the room with them, refusing to let either Kerry or Evander leave.

Kerry’s face was swollen, her lip split, one eye black and blue. Evander was still holding her to him tightly. The shock of what had happened had counteracted the vodka and even the pills. Kerry was aware that they were both in great danger. Skip came into the room, calmer now.

‘Listen to me, lady. I am gonna sell those tapes to the newspapers and whether you care or not, your career will be destroyed. Everyone will know what your daughter is and what you are. I have ten black men who will sign confessions saying they’ve slept with you. Had disgusting, perverted sexual relationships with you. Your name will be dirt, synonymous with every kind of filth, when I’ve finished. Unless you pay me what I want. Do you understand what I’m telling you?’

Kerry nodded painfully. ‘How mueh?’

‘Three hundred thousand pounds. I’ve upped the ante because I don’t like mouthy broads, especially mouthy broads who sleep with niggers.’ His voice was so vehement even Evander was shocked.

‘I don’t have that kind of money.’

It was Skip’s turn to laugh now. ‘Then my advice to you, little lady, is to find someone who does.’

The car Evander had heard was the twins’ Aston Martin.

As they parked in the narrow road and got out, they saw into the room of number sixteen. It was the only house still lit up.

‘Wait here and keep down,’ Danny ordered.

Creeping into the small front garden he looked in at the window of the lounge. The net curtains were about two inches too short for the window and he saw Kerry sitting on the settee opposite him, her face bloody. Beside her was the black man, Evander Dorsey; he was holding her hands in his. The three white men were sitting around the room watching them; one had a gun beside within easy reach of his hand. Daniel found his eyes riveted to his aunt and the man beside her. He glanced once more at the gun and went back to Boysie and Briony.

‘They’re in there all right, with three other men. One has a gun. Aunt Kerry’s face is a mess, someone’s roughed her up.’

‘What?’ Briony’s voice was incredulous.