The brightness faded at the mention of Gemma, Ben’s second wife. He’d tried to kill her too, the same night he’d tried to kill Dani. Apparently he blamed Gemma and Dani for everything. Despite his best efforts, both of them had lived.

‘They never come to see me,’ Ben said.

‘Are you in any way surprised by that?’

‘I’m still their dad.’

‘And you still killed your son’s mother, and tried to kill your daughter’s mother too.’

Ben gave her a hard stare and Dani matched the look. He broke eye contact first.

‘I know you wouldn’t come here just for a social visit,’ he said. ‘So come on, spit it out, what’s on your mind?’

‘Nothing’s on my mind. I thought it might help me to see you. To discuss what happened. My therapist seemed to agree.’

‘You’re still seeing a therapist?’ Ben said, smirking as though he was impressed with the havoc he’d caused.

Dani didn’t understand quite what he meant by ‘still’. She hadn’t been to visit him before so he knew nothing of the rehabilitation she’d endured over the last two years.

When she didn’t respond to his taunt, Ben carried on: ‘I don’t buy it. Not Dani the super-detective. I saw you on TV the other night, you know. Life just carries on as before for you, doesn’t it?’

Dani just scoffed at that. If only he knew.

‘You’re searching for a murderer, right?’

‘Yes. We are,’ Dani said.

‘So what? You’ve got a mysterious killer on your hands and you’re all stuck for answers so you thought you’d come and speak to me to see if I can help you in some way? I’m flattered, really. This is all a bit Hannibal Lecter, isn’t it?’

Ben did a mocking impression of Lecter, sucking through his teeth. Dani had to admit, he actually did a pretty good job, but she showed no reaction. And was she there as a detective, or as his sister? Even she wasn’t fully sure of the answer to that one.

‘Priceless,’ he said, his smile wide now. ‘You coming to me to help catch a killer.’

‘That’s not why I’m here. I told you why I came. For me. And anyway, I hardly think you’re an expert on the subject of murder. After all, you failed. I caught you and helped put you in here.’

Ben huffed. ‘Yeah. You did, didn’t you? I’m not sure I’ve ever properly thanked you for that.’

‘No need.’

‘So that’s it, then. You don’t need my help. You’ve got no update on how my wife and kids are getting along—’

‘Your second wife. Your first one is dead, remember?’

‘Yeah. I remember,’ he said, his eyes narrowing.