Kate sat bolt upright in bed and reached for the telephone on the bedside cabinet, hurriedly dialling a number.
Delaney stirred and rubbed his eyes. 'What's going on?'
'Shush.'
The phone rang a few times and was picked up. The voice on the other end of the line far from pleased.
'This had better be good. Have you any idea what bloody time it is?'
'Jane, it's Kate.'
'Kate.' The sleepy voice on the other end of the line became more alert. 'What the hell's going on? Are you all right?'
'I'm fine. Just tell me . . . Paul Archer. He worked with children, you said?'
'Yes.'
'What specialty?'
'Paediatric psychology. Mainly in the area of trauma counselling.'
'Does he use hypnosis?'
'Yes, I think he does.'
'Son of a bitch.'
'Has something happened?'
Kate smiled. 'No. Nothing happened. That's exactly the point. I'll speak to you later.' She hung up the phone and smiled broadly at Jack. Then she realised something else.
'Oh, shit.' She almost whispered it.
Helen Archer looked up a little startled as Kate came into one of the rooms for witnesses at the courthouse. Her hand flew involuntarily to her mouth like a wounded bird as she bit on a fingernail. She willed her hand down. 'Sorry, I'm a bundle of nerves today.'
'I can understand,' said Kate.
'I nearly felt like not turning up. I'm not sure, when I see him, how I'm going to react. I'm not sure I can do it.'
'He's a forceful man. I don't blame you, Helen.'
'But he deserves to pay for what he's done, doesn't he?'
Kate looked at the woman, could see the nerves running through her body like electricity, making her twitch and fidget. 'When we talked earlier this week, you said he was wearing a watch. That night, when he attacked you . . . you said he was wearing the watch you bought him as an anniversary present?'
Helen Archer nodded, a little puzzled by the question. 'That's right. He always wore it. He didn't care about scratching me. About hurting me.'
'That was the same night?'
'What same night?'
'As the rape?'
Helen stood up and gestured with her trembling hands, agitated now. 'Yes, of course it was the same night! Why are you asking me that?'
'He told me he sold the watch, Helen.'
'When?'
'The day after he moved out of the house.'
'He's a liar. He's always been a liar. When did he tell you this?'
'The night he stayed at my place. I am getting some
