As they ascended from the vault, Lorne explained to Valerie and Chloe. "This lift had originally been used to bring meals up from the kitchen, as well as wood and coal for the fireplaces. But it linked only the ground and the lower ground floors; the extension was added when the garden was excavated in the early 1960s."

"So, that's why that crank looks old-fashioned, isn't it, Daddy? He would have used the old mechanism."

"Exactly. But only as a contingency. He updated it with an electrical system when he extended the shaft to the bunker." When they reached the top, he led them out into the hallway, then he chuckled as he closed the panel behind them. "As a young boy, I dreamt of hidden passages behind secret panels. That's why I replaced the original door with this."

On their way upstairs to refresh before breakfast, Valerie picked up her phone in the drawing room and switched it on as they continued up to their suite. She paused in the entrance of the ensuite to tap in her password and connect to the wifi. Once she had settled on the loo seat, she glanced at the phone screen, blowing out a deep sigh at the red circles of notifications on the icons. Thought so. Later.

She set the phone on the counter. Concentrate on the real crap first. Leave Broughton's for later. As she washed her hands, she glanced at the phone again and sighed. Please! Nothing to spoil what's happening. The towel had been crumpled into a tight wad when a knock and Lorne's quiet voice startled her.

"I heard the flush a long while ago. Are you okay?"

"Hmmm. Yeah, fine. Come in."

Lorne entered and hugged her from behind as she shook out the towel. "You feel unusually tense. Something strange on the phone?"

"I don't know. Lots of notifications, but I've not found the courage to look."

"He's been arrested. He's in secure custody. He can do nothing now."

"Hmmm, yeah, but I'm concerned about Darryl, though. He broke a few laws to stop Broughton from ..." She paused and trembled.

Lorne pulled her to his chest. "He's experienced. You said he spent two dozen years with the Metropolitan Police. He'll know his way around."

"Yeah, he was a Detective Chief Superintendent when we recruited him." She let out a deep breath as she picked up her phone and wiggled her back into his front. "Continue holding me while I look at these." She tapped the Text icon and read the latest one from Darryl:

          0912 Saturday
          He's now been released.
          Call me.

"What?" Valerie clenched her eyes closed and shook her head. "What the fuck is going on?" She tapped to the previous text from Darryl:

          0857 Saturday
          Appears unlikely they'll charge him.

"Oh, God! What now?"

Lorne gave her a gentle squeeze. "There's still the arrest warrant from here. You said we've a reciprocal agreement. Read back further."

She tapped the previous text:

          0828 Saturday
          Custodial escorts have arrived

"What are custodial escorts?"

"Read further back."

          2203 Friday
          Transport escorts confirmed

"I should have started at the beginning." She tapped to the previous.

          2142 Friday
          Requested escorts from the Yard

"Looks like police to escort him back here for justice. This was sent soon after we had spoken last night." She tapped the next message up.

          2138 Friday
          Now clear of trespass and assault charges.

She heaved a sigh. "That's a huge relief. He could have been in a lot of trouble." She tapped the next text up the list.

          2107 Friday
          Broughton's been busted

"That's where I called him." She laid the phone on the counter and twisted around in Lorne's arms to face him. "Seems all is in order."

"Yeah, released into the custody of our police. You've a fine security chief. Bent the rules to prevent a rape, then managed to bend everything back into shape."

"I need to phone him."

Lorne chuckled. "And I need to use the loo."

<><><>

When Lorne rejoined Valerie in the bedroom, she outlined some of the points from her talk with Darryl. "He didn't want him charged with anything in Jersey. If he had been, the case would have been caught in the courts there for months. The break and enter and the assault not only prevented a rape, but it also left the police with less reason to charge Broughton. Attempted rape is even more difficult to prove than rape."

Lorne nodded. "I can see that. How's the woman?"

"Fine and unharmed. Tests showed she had a high level of Rohypnol in her system. She apparently remembers nothing since being in the bar."

Lorne shook his head. "Nothing?"

"Not unusual. After the drug wears off, many are unable to remember what happened while under its influence. Their anterograde amnesia is the biggest reason Rohypnol-assisted rape is so seldom reported."

"But, wouldn't they notice the physical evidence?"

"Mainly the strange location. When alcohol is involved, the victims often dismiss their disorientation, their upset stomach and dizzy and sluggish feelings as a hangover. Many are too disoriented from the side effects of the drug to even notice the physical evidence of the violation. Some even foul themselves with piss or worse before control and awareness return."

Lorne wrapped her in a close hug. "So, how did you realise he had raped you?"

"By living through it. By watching it happen." She closed her eyes into tight wrinkles as she paused. "He had apparently drugged my water during the shoot. No alcohol, only water, and though I was nearly incapacitated physically, I still had some awareness of what he was doing to me." She paused and pressed her face into the crook of his neck.

"I still have visions of being unable to do much about it except verbally. The video track records me protesting the entire time. A weak, slurred voice, but definitely saying no."

"He didn't understand no."

"No rapist does."

"Or, they do understand it, and they use it to increase their passion."

"Hmmm. I've not thought of it that way. Likely why he didn't simply hire prostitutes."

Lorne shrugged. "Could be like BS ... BTS ... whatever that alphabet soup thing is. The torture and punishment kink thing taken to extremes."

She giggled. "BDSM. Yeah, I can see that." Valerie tilted her head up to gaze into his eyes. "Have you any kinks?"

"One only."

What's that?"

"Pleasuring you."

Oh, fuck! She trembled as she glanced across the room to the bed. Not enough time before breakfast.