‘And Bill. Bill Anwar, our other friend.’ I thought of the spliffs Bill had in his tin. The booze. Oh God. My throat felt as dry as the leaves in the bonfire pile behind the shed. ‘But he must have gone to bed too, he came downstairs when she . . . I don’t understand how this can have happened,’ I tried. ‘Karen and Mike . . . they’ve been friends for years. Maybe . . . I mean maybe someone got into the garden. Someone else.’ My mind was rushing ahead. Was it possible, in the dark and drunk, not to realise which man was attacking you? ‘He couldn’t have done this. I swear. He’s not that kind of person, truly he isn’t.’

He didn’t say anything at first, but then he said: ‘I understand you’re Chair of the local Women’s Refuge, Mrs Morris?’

Meaning: of course you can be raped by a friend. In fact, you’re more likely to be. I knew this. I’d thrown those stats like so many hand grenades. But Mike? Again I tried to grasp at it, like an acrobat flying through the sky, gripping empty air. There was just no way. I knew bad men, and he wasn’t one. ‘What will happen?’ I said dully.

‘Well, we’ll run some tests, and we’ll question Ms Rampling and your husband. If charges are going to be pressed, there will be a magistrates’ hearing, probably on Monday or Tuesday.’

‘Will he get bail?’

His face, which I’d formerly found so kind and open, was unreadable. ‘That’s not our decision, Mrs Morris.’

Did people get bail for something like this? I thought of the bruises round Karen’s neck, the inky bloom of them. Mike? No, never. Mike had never raised a hand to anyone in his life, I was sure of that. He always joked that, being shorter, he had to get by on his wits, not his fists. Then I thought of Jake, running at Mike, the anger in him. ‘Where’s Jake?’ I asked. ‘Karen, Ms Rampling’s son, I mean. He’ll be so tired, I don’t think he got any sleep last night. There’s plenty of room, he doesn’t have to stay in that stupid tent . . .’

‘Mrs Morris,’ he said. He had that combination of gentle and firm. I thought he’d go far, in the force, Detective whatever his name was. ‘I think it’s wise if Jake stays somewhere else tonight. We’ll find him a place.’

It was in that moment I realised what had happened to us. I’d considered Jake and Karen as part of our family, but now the lines were drawn. It was them versus us. I thought of Karen’s white, horrified face, and my heart squeezed. But Mike. No, just no.