Brooke really laughed at that last remark. ‘The best for me, yeah? Stuck in my stinking bed, away from the world, with no studies, no friends, all alone, with just the smell of BO and the visions of those awful men. And you actually think that’s better?’

Now Rebecca felt trapped. Her two daughters – who’d hardly ever spoken two words to each other in God knows how many years – were now behaving like a pack of wolves, daring her to leave the kitchen. In her annoyance, she bit back. ‘Well, you look just fine to me!’

That crass comment, and the tone in which it was made, was enough to send Poppy into an almost apoplectic rage. ‘You evil bitch!’ she screamed, as she tried to push past Brooke to reach her mother.

But Brooke, even though she was weak, managed to pull Poppy back. ‘No, Poppy. I think our mother has just confirmed to me just how cold she really is. Well, I’m not a child, so I will go to the press and give an interview, and, hopefully, it may help to find those animals and bring them to justice, and you, Mother, will have nothing to do with it.’

Rebecca’s eyes were on stalks. ‘What? No, you certainly can’t do that!’

‘And who’s going to stop me? You?’

‘Yes, Brooke, I will. You have no idea what you’re doing, and I won’t stand by and—’

‘Let your career go down the drain?’ replied Poppy, finishing her mother’s sentence for her.

‘No, it’s not like that at all. Right, you listen to me and listen well. I had a call from your Uncle Conrad. That was where I was this morning. They have found the men who they believe attacked you.’

‘Mother, can’t you actually say the word. They raped me, Mother. They fucking raped me!’

Rebecca held her hands up. ‘Yes, I know they did. I am sorry. But listen, they have found the men.’

Poppy was stunned into silence, but Brooke clearly wasn’t. ‘I haven’t even given the police a proper statement, just a few details that I could remember at the time. Christ, Mother, they didn’t even examine me, let alone take a DNA sample, and I guess once again that was your doing. So, how the fuck do they know they’ve the right men?’

Rebecca looked down at the Italian marble floor tiles and visibly sighed. ‘Because one of the men was found with your bank card and another had your watch.’

‘So, what now? Do I go and identify them in a line-up or what?’

‘No, you can’t. They are dead.’

‘What!’ screeched Brooke.

Poppy laughed out loud. ‘Oh, come on. Is this another ploy to shut her up so you can put an end to this?’

‘No, Poppy, it’s not. They were found dead early this morning. That is where I was . . . with your uncle.’