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I? Mrs Clarkson was there. So were Ginny, Zoe, James and Daniel. They wouldn’t have believed me, anyway. And he would have denied it. He only does things to me when no one can see what he’s up to.’
    With her pen poised over her notebook, Connie said urgently, ‘There were other occasions like that? Was there any time when Major Clarkson suggested you went with him to another room, or met him somewhere on your own?’
    Again a shake of her head. ‘He knew I’d never do that. But he made it plain it’s what he wanted.’
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜You know. Secret smiles, always looking at my breasts, trying to get me in the front seat when he ran a group of us home, so he could touch my leg when he changed gears.’
    It was too much for Mrs Laine. ‘ Stacey! Stacey, love, how could you have kept all that from me?’
    â€˜I just told you. He would have said I was making it up. Nobody would have believed me. Besides, Ginny would have turned them all at school against me and the whole base would think I’d encouraged him. I couldn’t face that, Mum.’ She began to cry and her mother gathered her up to rock her comfortingly.
    The sergeants looked at each other expressively, then Connie explained the situation. ‘You’ll have to face a great deal of gossip now, Stacey. It’s inevitable, and your friendship with the Clarkson children will be over. You do understand that?’
    The sick girl emerged from her mother’s embrace, red-eyed and tear-streaked. ‘He put his fingers there. He felt me there. Tickled between my legs,’ she confessed in a rush. ‘He said he wanted to see me naked, touch me all over. He said he wanted me to touch him where it would excite him the most. He said he thought all the time about making me his slave who would do anything he wanted.’
    Jean Laine was now crying, saying over and over, ‘Jeff’ll kill him when he hears about this.’
    â€˜Neither you nor your husband must do anything, Mrs Laine. We will handle it from now on,’ Heather told her sternly. ‘Stacey, are you willing to repeat all you have just told us during an official recorded interview?’
    The girl looked wildly at her mother. ‘I don’t feel well, Mum. I can’t answer any more questions.’
    â€˜Someone else will come to see you tomorrow,’ Connie told her reassuringly. ‘Stop worrying and concentrate on recovering from the nasty bug you have.’
    â€˜I won’t have to see him , will I? He’ll say I’m lying.’
    â€˜You won’t have to see Major Clarkson or any of his family while the case is being investigated.’
    They left Stacey burrowing under her duvet with a teddy bear clutched against her, and walked out to sunshine and fresh air. Seated in their car they exchanged impressions.
    â€˜Can you imagine the Doc doing that?’ Heather asked.
    â€˜He’s a bit of a cold fish, but that doesn’t mean anything,’ Connie said frankly. ‘Men of his age can get indecent urges that shock even themselves. Let’s assume he’s going through a mid-life crisis. Married eighteen years ago; sired four kids. Life now seems to revolve around them and their occupations. His free time is spent driving them to ballet lessons, football practice, swimming, tennis, youth club, parties. The house is constantly swarming with their friends who invade every room and play pop music in conflicting styles at full volume. His wife is forever preparing food for the horde, washing football gear, sewing sequins on tutus or helping them rehearse their lines for a school play. She has no time or energy for sex. He’s fast losing his libido, so he gives himself some stuff from his surgery to pep it up. Result: the nearness of tender young female flesh drives his inhibitions away. He’s tormented by his daughters’ schoolfriends; can’t stop himself from touching