‘I’m sure it is. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think he’d get so long, but the Old Bill laid it on thick, and that probation report didn’t help either. Once they assessed him as a danger to the public, well, there was nothing more I could do for him. They’ve basically made an example of him because he was the ringleader.’

She just sat in the moulded plastic chair, nodding at him, thinking she must look like one of those stupid dogs she hated to see in the back of cars.

‘Are you sure you’re okay, dear?’ he asked again.

She straightened herself up. ‘Yes, I’m sure, Jack. I’ll be fine. You get on, I’m sure you must be busy.’

He made his excuses then and left for his next court case. She walked to the car park in something of a daze and before she knew it, she was at the car. She couldn’t remember getting there; it was almost as if she was operating on autopilot.

It wasn’t until she unlocked the car and climbed inside that the tears, which had been threatening since she was in the courtroom, finally came. Deep, gulping sobs – sobs of pure relief. She was free! For at least nine years he wouldn’t be able to hurt her, wouldn’t be able to touch her. She would be able to live in peace in her own home. To take charge of her own life and do the things she wanted to do. She could take control of the pub again, could go back to running the place herself. Have her own bank account with her own money. The potential future unfolded before her like an endless stream of possibilities. The start of Nathan’s prison sentence signalled the end of hers.

She couldn’t have been happier.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Present Day

Michael came out of his father’s hospital room with a grim look on his face. It had been two days since Patrick had been admitted to hospital and he’d finally been moved from the ICU to the trauma ward. He was still in a state, but was no longer critical.

‘He said he doesn’t want to see you, Grace,’ Michael said as he shook his head.

‘What? Why?’ she asked. That didn’t make any sense to her.

‘He wouldn’t tell me. He said that Nathan finally told him the truth and you’d know what that meant. What the hell’s he on about?’

She swallowed. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Don’t bullshit me, Grace,’ Michael said. ‘I can tell by your face. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’