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I really enjoyed your company over the past few days, and we got carried away. But even you must see that’s all it was. A very enjoyable mistake, but a mistake, nonetheless.” He reached for her hand and she shoved him away.
    “You...you used me,” she said, rapidly shaking her head from side to side.
    “Come on, love. It wasn’t like that. You came to me.”
    “And now what?” she screamed.
    “I’ve booked you into a hostel for a few days, and I got you some cash to keep you going.” He pulled the folded notes from his pocket and handed them to her. She snatched the cash, holding it up in front of him. “What? You’re gonna try to pay me off like some cheap hussy? Forget about all those promises you made to me? The job, the place to stay.”
    “Shhhh,” he said, flapping both of his hands in front of her in an attempt to calm her down. But it was useless. “I’ll pay for the hostel until you get on your feet and find a job. I’ll even take you to buy a few new outfits and stuff.”
    “I don’t want your fucking outfits. I want what you promised me—a job and a place to stay.”
    “And I will still help you get a job, if I can.”
    “I want the job you promised me. The one in your office.”
    “That’s not going to happen, Susie. I’m sorry.”
    “Well, then, you’d better get your cheque book out because this is going to fucking cost you.” She walked over to her pile of clothes and stuffed the cash into her coat pocket.
    “Why are you being like this? I already told you I’ll help you, and there’s three hundred quid in cash there.”
    “I already told you I don’t want your fucking help. And how much good is a poxy three hundred quid. I want one hundred thousand pounds.”
    Lee almost choked. Once he’d composed himself he laughed. “I don’t have that kind of money, and even if I did I wouldn’t give it to you. It was one fucking night.”
    “And you’re a married man!”
    “So what? My wife’s been away for the past six years. I’m sure she’ll forgive one little dalliance.”
    “But will she forgive you for screwing a fifteen-year old?”
    He staggered backwards and steadied himself on the breakfast bar. “But you said...”
    “I know what I said. Do you really think I’d have told you the truth?”
    “I’ll tell everyone you lied. That you came on to me.”
    “Nobody will believe you. Look at you—a desperate, lonely man whose wife has been away for years.” She suddenly batted her eyelids. “I trusted him, officer. He promised me he wasn’t like all the other men, officer. And when I was asleep in the bed upstairs, he snuck in and raped me.”
    “You wouldn’t,” he said, shaking his head in denial.
    “Yes! You raped me! RAPE! RAPE!” she screamed.
    Lee pounced on her, pressing his hand across her mouth to try to shut her up.
    She struggled. “RAPE!” her screams were more garbled but just as loud.
    He wrestled her to the floor and straddled her, pressing his hands over her mouth with all his might until she stopped struggling.
    Then, lifting his hands tentatively, he saw she wasn’t moving.
    “Oh no. Oh, no, fuck!” he cried. Bending over her, he could feel her breath on his cheek. Not dead—just unconscious.
    Moving quickly, he got to his feet and tried to lift her into his arms, but she was like a dead weight. Lifting her feet, he dragged her to the cellar door. After a brief struggle, he opened it and shoved her down the concrete steps. He heard her hit every surface before reaching the bottom with a sickening slap. Then he slammed the door shut again, locking it behind him.

Chapter 10
    Lee was beside himself.
    He strode around the room in terror. How the fuck could he be so stupid? As if sleeping with a minor wasn’t bad enough, but then to assault her, throw her down a flight of stairs before imprisoning her in the cellar. He wouldn’t be able to talk his way out of this one.
    He would get at least ten years, minimum, if this got out.
    “Fuck,