‘No, he didn’t. I didn’t feel as though he needed to know. He’s got enough of his own issues to deal with,’ Abbey said, her voice shaking, the panic rising as her breaths got closer together. ‘That’s what all this is about? Why did they choose me?’

‘They didn’t just choose you, it was other students, too. We think that’s what Parker is doing now, trying to track the rest of them down,’ Adrian said.

‘Is there any chance that Helen Lassiter was involved in your attack? There doesn’t seem to be any mention of the perpetrator’s name in her emails, but it’s possible that your original assault was part of this – for want of a better word – game,’ Imogen explained.

‘What are you saying?’

‘Maybe your attacker was coerced into assaulting you in the same way they planned to coerce you into doing whatever Coley was going to make you do,’ Imogen said.

‘You think my teacher, someone I trusted, someone who was supposed to look out for me actually told someone to rape me? To score points as part of a game?’ Abbey’s tone contained a mixture of anger and distress.

‘If you tell us who it was, then we can investigate further. We might be able to get more information on who was behind it. It might lead us back to Parker,’ Adrian said.

‘If I thought it would help Parker then I would tell you, but I don’t think it will. I’m not willing to talk about it. I tried to report it at the time and it was ignored due to lack of evidence, and so I don’t see the point in dredging it up again now,’ Abbey said firmly, her face whiter than usual.

Imogen couldn’t imagine what she must be feeling upon hearing this. Probably similar to how Adrian had felt upon learning that the false accusation against him was not just one misguided person’s decision but an action by committee.

‘We have reason to believe this game has been going on for several years. It’s possible whoever attacked you was doing so under her instruction,’ Adrian said.

‘That’s horrible. Why would anyone do that?’ Abbey asked.

‘If we can just interview the person who attacked you—’ Adrian tried.

‘I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. I have put that all behind me and I don’t want to talk about it ever again.’ Abbey was clearly upset by the conversation.

‘Maybe Parker has gone after that person – it’s possible he figured it out, isn’t it?’ Adrian pushed.

Imogen put her hand on his arm, a gentle reminder that pressing Abbey for this information was likely to push her away. Not to mention the fact that forcing a rape victim to share that information felt completely wrong. She hoped he understood without her having to spell it out.

‘He wouldn’t do that without speaking to me first. I’m telling you, there is something wrong. I have a bad feeling that something has happened to Parker.’