‘No, I didn’t think so. If you’ve come here for tea and sympathy and somewhere to lick your wounds I’m afraid you came to the wrong place, Pat. I have nothing for you as far as that girl’s concerned. You helped murder her as if you snapped her neck yourself. Any sympathy I have is for her family. I bet that never occurred to you either, did it? That all the women who work for you are someone’s daughter or someone’s mother. You don’t have the monopoly on grief, Pat. Try and put yourself in her parents’ position. At least when you found out about Mandy’s death you didn’t have the added trauma of finding out she met her death while plying her trade, fucking strange men.

‘What’s it you just said? “Those women were like animals to me.” My God, Patrick Kelly, you’ve got some bloody front coming here!’

Patrick stared at her.

‘Have you quite finished? If I’d wanted a bloody lecture I’d have gone to a university. I came here to try and sort out my head, that’s all. I never harmed that girl, I never wanted anything to happen to her, to any of them . . .’

He was floundering and he knew it. Kate had stated the plain, ugly truth and his only form of defence was attack.

‘You make me laugh sometimes, Mrs Highbrow Bloody Policewoman. Well, did it ever occur to you that some of them girls like their job? Did it? That if they didn’t work for me they would work for someone else . . . Well, did it? DID IT?’

Kate shook her head sadly.

‘I’m not seeing them though am I? I’m seeing you, Pat, and I don’t care how much you rant and rave, I’ve nothing for you tonight. I’ve no sympathy for you, I’m sorry. If you want that I suggest you go and see the girl’s parents. That might put it in perspective for you. Though after what happened to Mandy, I’d have thought you of all people would have understood what they’re going through.’

Patrick felt the temper rising and he was honest enough to admit that it was not because of Kate’s words, but because he felt ashamed. He could not admit that to her though.