‘I rarely go to the North End – it’s a little blustery for me even on nice days. I usually go for a walk with Primrose towards Cromwell’s Castle. No, that’s not a person; Primrose is my dog, bless her. I didn’t bring her this time. I’m not sure why I decided to go up there that day. I was out looking for Charlotte. But I didn’t find her.
‘Yes. I was alone when it happened.
‘I’m not sure where exactly. I can’t remember too many details. I was in the Old Ship earlier. I’m afraid I was a little squiffy. I lost my husband you see and—
‘Yes. I can carry on … It started raining.
‘He came at me from behind. I think the first blow caught me here, this bit of my eyebrow. You can see where it’s swollen. It still hurts.
‘I stumbled. Cut up my hands and knees.
‘No. I didn’t see the man clearly. I only caught a glimpse of 317the balaclava. I’m afraid I didn’t notice what else he wore. It all happened so quickly.
‘I pushed him off and he slipped and fell. That’s how I got away.
‘I remember running down and down and twisting my ankle a little and then I got back here. I fell asleep, or possibly passed out from the shock, I’m not sure. My son found me the next morning.’
She was shaking by the time the interview was over. Traumatic. It brought it all back – the storm, the screams, the shock of the balaclava – running and stumbling down and down …
She got away. Poor Charlotte didn’t.