Why the fuck did she go back to him? Why do women do that?” In the fractional hesitation before Robin replied, Strike realized that a certain personal interpretation could be put on these words. “I suppose,” began Robin, and simultaneously Strike said, “I didn’t mean—” Both stopped. “Sorry, go on,” said Strike. “I was only going to say that abused people cling to their abusers, don’t they? They’ve been brainwashed to believe there’s no alternative.” I was the bloody alternative, standing there, right in front of her!
