‘Maybe you ought to let me try out the goods first,’ he said. ‘You know, get a taste. Like a sampler. To help me decide if I want to help you or not. I mean, it’s a risk for me. I’ve got to think it’s worthwhile, know what I mean?’

That was the moment when she knew it was going to be more than just talk. He crushed out his cigarette and flicked away the stub. Pushed away from the wall and took a couple of steps towards her. Studying her intently. Virtually licking his lips. He pointed the knife casually at her chest and said, ‘Got a shirtful there, aintcha, darling? You could start by letting me take a peek at those. How about you take your top off for your uncle Mitch?’

She gave him a flat look and said, ‘My hands are tied, moron.’

He grinned and replied, ‘So what you’re saying is, if your hands weren’t tied you’d show me what you’ve got? Yeah?’

‘Hey, you never know your luck.’

‘That’s just for starters. You don’t buy the car till you’ve had a test drive, right? So I still need to see the rest of the goods. Right?’

‘Suit yourself,’ she said. ‘But my hands aren’t going to untie themselves, are they?’

He came forward two more steps, close enough that she could smell his bad breath. ‘Stand up then, darling. Let me cut you free. Then we can have a bit of fun, you and me. Well, me more than you. But that’s how it goes.’

She stood. Her heart was running so fast there were virtually no gaps between the beats. He came behind her, chuckled and said, ‘Careful now. Wouldn’t want you to get cut.’ Then she felt the cold steel flat of the knife blade touch her wrist. She could barely breathe. The blade was so sharp that the plastic cable tie holding her hands parted in seconds.

Her arms dropped to her sides. Her wrists ached from the bite of the plastic. She slowly turned to face him. Up close, he had a complexion like corned beef. His face was livid and his eyes were bulging. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.

‘Now,’ he said. ‘Get your kit off. Nice and slow.’

Grace crossed her hands in front of her as though she was about to reach for the hem of her jumper and peel it off. Then, so fast that her movement was a blur, she made a fork of the index and middle fingers of her right hand and jabbed it as viciously as she could into his eyes.