I tried moving across the doorway to see from a different angle, but didn’t check where my feet were going and my left shoe connected with something hard. There was a metallic ring. I looked down to see I had kicked a pail a few centimetres. It wasn’t a loud sound and I prayed no one had heard it, but everything had gone quiet out in the shop. ‘I can get you more next month,’ Toby said.

‘Do you think I’m a fucking idiot?’ the gruff voice demanded. ‘What was that?’

‘Just some tart. The usual.’

‘Is it, now? I haven’t actually seen that before. Could be nice. You stay here.’ I ran to the other side of the room, behind the desk. A bear-like man with a heavy brown beard entered, followed by one of the other policemen. ‘All right, love?’ he said in a thick voice. I didn’t reply. He appraised me and smirked to his mate. ‘Don’t know why you’re here. You could do better. Magazines. Proper stuff.’ The one behind him chuckled. ‘Or for your old man, is it?’ I didn’t reply. ‘Come on, speak up. I said speak up.’

My mouth was dry. ‘My old man.’

‘Bit of a game for him?’ He walked slowly behind me. His breath had the tang of beer. ‘He likes that sort of thing.’

I had to say something. ‘Yes. A game.’

‘Lucky him.’ He moved out in front of me again. ‘Well, don’t let us stop you.’ I stood there unmoving; the air seemed to smell of them. ‘Come on. Been a crap day for us, so cheer us up.’

‘How?’

‘ “How?” she says. Over there. In the light.’ He pointed and waited. Terrified, I walked slowly over to the squalid stage and stood, blinking in the weak sun. ‘Now show us something.’

‘No, it’s –’

‘Don’t annoy me, love. Show us something.’

There was silence as they stood stock still. I would have done anything to get out of there. I lifted the hem of my skirt. ‘Come on, you’re not a fucking nun.’ His voice was sharper now. ‘Show us something or maybe we’ll make this more official.’ I lifted the hem higher so that it reached my underwear. ‘Not enough, love. We’ll have to take you in, won’t we?’ The officer behind him nodded.

‘What … do you want?’ I stammered. He pointed to my blouse.

I was terrified of what they could do to me there, without anyone around to care, let alone stop them. I lifted my fingers to the top button but couldn’t make them work – they felt stiff and numb.

‘Go on!’ His voice was rasping and brutal.