The room was dirty. A stale odour assailed Donna’s nostrils. On the bed was a girl of about ten. Her long hair was tied to a heavy piece of wood across the end of the bed. Standing by it in just a white shirt was a tall thin white man. He had sandy hair and his face and body were red raw from too much sun. He looked frightened, and on closer inspection of the child Donna could see why.

The little body was lying awkwardly against the end of the bed. He had tried to turn her over on to her stomach and her hair had stopped the procedure. The little girl’s head was at an odd angle and blood was seeping from her mouth and nostrils. She was naked, and blood was smeared on the tops of her legs.

The man was pulling on his shorts, his breathing harsh in the still room.

‘What the fuck’s going on here?’

Candy swiftly examined the child. Then, taking Kassim’s hunting knife from his belt, she began cutting the girl’s hair to release her from her bonds, all the while talking.

‘Who let you in here, Mr Gainsborough?’

The man was standing staring at the child, whose moans were becoming less and less coherent.

Donna rushed to her side. Taking a hankie from her pocket, she wiped the child’s brow and face. The blood was lessening now.

‘It wasn’t my fault, Candy. She was struggling . . . She just kept struggling.’

Candy looked at the man in annoyance and said distinctly, ‘Well, so would you if someone had you tied by the hair. You shouldn’t even be here during the day. Who gave the say-so, eh?’

Mr Gainsborough, assistant manager in a Surrey bank and a married man, stood on his dignity.

‘I arranged it with Jake, actually. I prefer the daylight. I don’t like coming when it’s busy.’

The child free now, Candy laid her on her back. She stood up to her full height and said loudly, ‘I don’t give a monkey’s what you like and what you don’t like. No one ties up my girls - no one. It’s something I will not tolerate. Now my advice to you is to get yourself down the beach or to your hotel and come back tonight. Otherwise keep away, Mister. These kids only work nights while I’m here. Not all bloody day as well. Now piss off.’

She turned from him and said to Donna, ‘Help me get her into bed. He’s pulled the muscle, that’s all. Could have broken the poor little whore’s neck.’

Donna shook her head in consternation. The child was semi-conscious.

‘She needs hospital treatment, Candy. Take her to hospital.’

Candy stared into Donna’s eyes. ‘She’ll be all right. Now help me get her into bed.’