Matt stuffed his hands in his pockets, mouth twisting from side to side before he answered, his eyes on the wall above her left shoulder. ‘I was just going away for a few days until everything settled down. Fiona said to go to Center Parcs as the booking had already been made.’

‘Don’t you think that’s a bit of an obvious place?’ Sara scoffed. ‘She’s played you good and proper, hasn’t she?’

Nerves tugged at her stomach and her hand found Hailey’s phone, felt the reassuring coolness of the metal casing. She sneaked a quick look at the screen as he studied the floor, then slipped it back in her pocket.

‘I’ve spoken to Fiona,’ she said, and noticed another twitch of his lips. ‘I know she was your client, the one who runs the website business. I know it was her idea… but Matt, you didn’t have to do it. You could have said no at any time, when you knew what it was all about. Can’t you see how something like that can ruin people’s lives? Innocent women being exploited to feed men’s fetishes. Can’t you see it’s wrong?’

He stared at her for a long moment before he finally spoke, scuffing at the tiles with the toe of one of his trainers.

‘I needed the money to keep our family solvent.’ His voice was low and even, as though he was having to patiently explain something obvious to someone who was being a bit thick. ‘She assured me the women had given their consent. She said they were willing participants. No harm done. And it would earn us a shedload of money.’

Sara’s anger burst into flame, her finger the only weapon to hand as she stabbed the air. ‘But you know that’s a load of rubbish, don’t you? Look at what happened to me. In no way did I consent.’ She realised she was shouting, and glanced into the lounge, worried that Ezra would hear, but thankfully, he’d fallen asleep.

When her gaze came back to Matt, his expression told her she’d caught his lie.

‘I got it wrong, love.’ He ran a hand through his hair, searching the wall for an excuse. ‘She mesmerised me, enticed me with talk of all the money we would make, how it would give the family stability, how you weren’t coping and needed me to step up.’ He gave a slow shake of his head. ‘She said she was doing us a favour, helping us out.’ His voice cracked. ‘I can’t understand how she did it, but she made me believe it was the right thing, the only thing I could do.’

‘Oh Matt.’ Sara wasn’t having any of it, suddenly immune to his wheedling ways. ‘You’re not that gullible. She’s not a bloody snake-charmer, is she?’