‘I don’t believe you. I don’t believe he can be stopped that way. Where’s Adrian, anyway?’ Angela asked. ‘Why isn’t he here? Did Reece do something to him? I told you both to get away while you still could.’

‘Adrian’s got the flu, that’s all; nothing to do with your husband. Is there anything you can tell me about Reece that would help us get him? Something we can corroborate independently, so you don’t have to testify?’

‘You think I know anything? I don’t. He doesn’t tell me shit. Let me ask you something, Detective.’

‘What?’

‘Have you ever been terrified of a person? Not just in a bad situation. But scared all the time, from the moment you wake until the moment you finally fall asleep at night?’

‘No.’

‘Then how can you tell me what to do? Even here, now, I can feel him breathing down my neck. I hear him telling me what’s going to happen if I do anything that upsets him. I may not remember the attack, but I remember waking in that hospital bed. I remember looking in the mirror and the nurse telling me I was lucky to be alive. I don’t feel very lucky, DS Grey.’

‘I understand, no one should have to endure what your husband has put you through. You deserve better than that.’

‘Are you sure about that? You don’t even know me. I have eyes – I see the way you purse your lips together every time I refuse to speak against Reece. I hope you never know how it feels to be living under a shadow like this.’

‘You don’t have to live like this for ever, not if you testify. What’s your alternative? What about your parents? Do you have any family you can go to?’

‘Reece is the only family I have left. Everyone else is dead or gone,’ Angela said as she swiped her sleeve across her face to catch a tear.

‘Can you give me a name at least? Someone else we can talk to about him? Has anyone ever tried to help you before?’

Angela stood and walked to the window. She hugged her arms and Imogen could tell she was considering whether or not to say what she had on her mind.

‘There is one man who tried to help me before.’

‘What’s his name?’

‘Clive Osborne. He worked for the company for years and I confided in him; he offered to get me out of there.’

‘Where is “there”?’

‘Our old place, back in Oswestry, Shropshire. Reece must have got to him, because after I arranged to meet him, I never saw him again.’

‘What happened? Why didn’t he turn up?’

‘He just never showed up on the night we arranged to go.’

‘Where is he?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Do you think he is dead?’ Imogen asked.