She heaved a sigh, her body slackening with fatigue. ‘Next day, on the bus, Amie told everyone I was a slut, throwing myself at her boyfriend. That was when she followed me and ripped out my earring.’ She rubbed her earlobe. ‘She said no one would believe me … but if I did tell anyone, she’d rip out the other. I’ve never worn earrings since.’

His glance flickered to each earlobe as she held back her hair to show him. The rip caused by Amie’s viciousness had long since healed without a mark. Or, at least, not one that showed on the outside.

His big body shuddered. ‘I’m so sorry, Laurel.’

‘You?’ She got up and pulled sheets off a roll of blue cleaning paper to wipe her cheeks and blow her nose. ‘You didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t take care of my personal safety and the others committed the crime.’

‘Jeez.’ His hands moved restlessly, clenching, unclenching.

‘Mac’s story. Does it match up with mine?’ she asked, wondering if he was about to twist her account to make Mac look better.

He nodded.

She laughed hollowly. ‘That’s something.’

‘Did you ever get the impression that he … liked you? Before that, I mean,’ he said, tentatively.

She shrugged. ‘Define “like”. Developing early got me unwanted attention and people compared me to Lara Croft, the computer game character with big boobs. Do you remember that Bowling for Soup song? ‘Girl All the Bad Guys Want’? I felt like that was me, attracting the brashest and cockiest of the older boys. It was uncomfortable and threatening. But I was entitled to choose who to like and who not to,’ she added fiercely.

‘Of course you were. Are.’ He clenched his hands even tighter. ‘Who would you say was the ringleader?’

She didn’t have to think about that. ‘Amie. Mac followed instructions. Jonny and Ruben were a willing audience. My role was victim … but I’m not one anymore. I know about personal safety and I’ve taken self-defence classes.’ She fell silent, her earlier good mood shattered. She wouldn’t be able to work again today. A happy, dancing woman was a long way from her current frame of mind.

Tentatively, he reached for her hand. Surprised, she let him take it, feeling his dry and chilly fingers against hers. His gaze bored into hers and his voice emerged low and full of compassion. ‘You know you could still report the incident?’