31
The rest of that day passed in a blur. Jasmine was as drained as if she had been put through a mangle, all the life and energy squeezed out of her. But she did remember an angry Barbara ranting at her for leaving her in the bungalow cellar.
‘Anything could have happened. The bandits could have broken in and murdered me. I’ve never been so terrified in my life. And it was so gloomy down there. One naked light bulb. Disgusting. And nowhere proper to sit.’ She folded her arms and glared at Jasmine. ‘I had to sit on a mattress on the floor.’
‘Shut up, Barbara.’ Howard’s voice was tense with anger. ‘Stop moaning. Jasmine doesn’t want to listen to it. And neither do I.’
Barbara turned to Jasmine. ‘Did you hear what he said?’ Eliciting no response, she resorted to Godfrey and said, ‘I want
