I straightened up, recognizing a losing battle when I saw one. ‘Whether you believe me or not is your choice – but I would never do anything to hurt Callie, and that’s the truth.’

We both stood watching each other as the other guests flowed around us giving us curious looks. Without another word, Sephy turned and walked into the dining room. I had been dismissed.

I sighed as I looked round my apartment. I could wish I had Sephy on my side when it came to winning Callie back, but never mind. I’d just have to do it without her help. Once I was sure the apartment was ready to welcome visitors, I changed into black jeans and a long-sleeved burgundy T-shirt before phoning Jon Duba. No answer. I tried again. Still no answer. Where the hell was he? Where was my progress report? I hated this helpless feeling – like sitting on top of the world and watching it slowly disintegrate beneath my feet – and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it.

I had to admit that, in spite of not knowing how to answer phone calls, Jon Duba was no amateur. In the space of a couple of hours, he’d provided me with the information I’d requested. I now knew Shane Stoats’s home address, something I hadn’t even known when Dan was alive. And, according to Jon, Shane was going to be home for at least the next couple of hours. Also, according to Jon, Eva would be at Ava’s until midnight. Ridiculous name for a nightclub. It used to be called the Kettle Honey Club, but Dan had renamed it about six years ago. When I asked why, he just shrugged and said, ‘Why not?’ I was sure there was more to it than that, but at the time I didn’t push. After all, what difference did it make to me what he called his club? It was none of my business. I now wondered if it had something to do with Eva. Strange how all roads, all routes, all motives seemed to lead right back to that woman.

First things first. Number one on my list was to pay Shane a visit. Jon had asked me to wait until I heard from him so that he could come with me. He had something to take care of first, but I wasn’t prepared to wait a second longer than necessary. No one but me knew what I was prepared to do to get my daughter back in one piece, the lengths that I would go to. I didn’t doubt for one second that before the day was over there would be blood on my hands.

The fewer people who witnessed that, the better.