Katie started shaking as she pulled the dressing gown tighter around her body.

‘I’m on your side, Katie. I can help you . . . but I need to know if you have any other injuries.’

Tears began to trickle down Katie’s face as she slowly opened the dressing gown, let it fall open and stood with her hands covering her crotch.

Jane gasped as she saw the extent of bruising on Katie’s arms, legs and stomach. They were clearly the result of punches, grab marks and kicks to her legs, deliberately inflicted in areas where Barry thought other people wouldn’t see them. Katie pulled the dressing gown around her.

‘This is wrong, Katie, so wrong. You can’t let him treat you like a punch bag. If you make a formal allegation of assault against him, he will be charged. I’ll ask the court for him to be remanded in custody pending trial . . .’

‘I can’t . . . it would only make things worse.’

‘What about the children? Has he ever hurt them?’

‘He’d never do that. Barry’s loves his children.’

‘Believe me, as they get older, he will treat them in the same way. You also need to know we believe he forced a coffin open and stole the cross and chain from the body of a dead nun.’

Katie looked horrified and her legs started to buckle. Jane managed to grab her and sit her on the bed before she fell over. The tears rolled down her cheeks.

‘How could he do that then give it to me?’

‘I don’t know. I’ll tell him I saw the cross when you got out of bed; that way, he won’t know about our conversation and take it out on you.’

‘Thank you . . . but he’ll still be angry with me.’

‘Have you thought about leaving him?’

Katie choked back a sob. ‘Is there anywhere you can go?’

‘My parents live down the road,’ she managed to say. ‘I’m sure they’ll take us in until I can find somewhere else.’

‘Will you be safe there?’

‘I don’t know for sure, but it’s the only place I have to go.’

‘Barry will be taken to the station for interview. It will give you time to pack some belongings for yourself and the children.’

‘How long can you hold him?’ Katie asked, pulling a small suitcase out from under the bed.

‘Depends on whether or not he admits to stealing the cross, but at least eight to twelve hours. That should give you plenty of time to get out of here. If you want to press charges about the assaults . . .’

‘Let me think about it.’