Allison could have stood firm, insisted Portia and Stuart get the money somehow. They probably could have taken out loans, sold or mortgaged their properties, but all that would have taken time. Two million, like a bird in the hand, was the better option. It was, too, the minimum she and Jo had said they’d accept.

‘Two million is far less than I’d wanted but…’

‘You’ll take it?’

Allison allowed a loud sigh to drift down the line. ‘Yes. As long as it’s in my account by one. You have my bank details?’

‘Yes. How do we know we can trust you?’

‘As soon as the money has cleared, you’ll have your passports returned and I promise the evidence we have will be destroyed. You’ll have to trust me on that.’

‘It doesn’t look as if we have much choice.’

Portia sounded defeated. Allison remembered the friend she thought she’d had and felt a twinge of regret it had all been a fantasy. She’d have felt sad for that woman, for the friend who’d seemed so supportive. For this woman, who’d have facilitated her husband’s depraved appetite, she had nothing but disgust. ‘Just have the money in my account, Portia. One o’clock. No later.’

‘Bitch!’ It was Portia’s final word.

‘Nice,’ Allison said. She put the phone down and sat back with a satisfied smile. ‘Two million. One each. Not as good as the three you’d hoped for, but better than the nothing you currently have.’

‘I won’t start spending till it’s in my bank account.’ Jo sat back and folded her arms, a strange expression on her face. ‘If the money comes, what are you planning to do?’

‘As I promised, give them back their passports and destroy the evidence.’

‘Evidence you don’t have.’

‘Makes that job even easier, then, doesn’t it?’ Allison got slowly to her feet. ‘Looks like we’re going to be sitting twiddling our thumbs till one; you want more coffee?’ She waited till Jo nodded a yes before going into the kitchen to make coffee. A pot this time; it was going to be a long morning.

‘What are you going to do?’ Jo asked again when she returned with the coffee, two clean mugs and a jug of milk.

‘Drink coffee and wait.’

Jo’s face wasn’t mobile enough to show irritation. A raised eyebrow seemed to be the most she could do to show emotion. Allison relented. She had to keep reminding herself that Jo had saved her. She wished she wasn’t beholden to her. A million would clear that. ‘I don’t know exactly.’ She shrugged. ‘I’d like to stop them from doing the same to any other woman.’

Jo reached for her coffee. ‘I’m not helping you with anything violent, Allison; I told you, it’s not my thing.’

‘Nor mine, relax.’