Despite the turmoil in her mind, Dani decided to head straight back to HQ. She could have called McNair back, to air her concerns about Fairclough’s involvement, but she’d rather have the conversation in person. She arrived just before one p.m. When she stepped from her car she realised she was still shaky from the abrupt end to the meeting with Ben, but as she walked it subsided and she managed to calm her still swirling thoughts.

Did she feel better for having seen her brother? In a way, yes. She’d meant what she said to him. Seeing him in that place, if only for a few minutes, had helped reaffirm that he really couldn’t hurt her anymore. But then the way he’d flipped so easily at the end… that crazed man simply didn’t tally with the one she’d known for so many years.

She remained terrified that the same demons that tormented Ben were also now inside her. Over the last two years it had certainly seemed that way. How many times had her brain felt ready to explode, had she been on the brink of losing control? Scratch that, how many times had she lost control?

As Dani headed through into the open-plan space of Force CID the place was bustling, not with work but with chatter. Which likely meant McNair wasn’t around after all. There was a group of five guys standing by Easton’s desk chatting and smiling and being a bit… laddish. Easton was among them, along with DC Constable – his best chum, it seemed – and three others Dani hadn’t seen before. They looked to be in their early twenties so most likely were constables or sergeants from one of the other divisions.

Dani headed towards her recently acquired desk, the second to last space in the far corner of the room. She’d previously had one of the best positioned desks, over by the windows. She greeted the group of men in passing. Easton said hi; the others smiled and smirked. She did see that right, didn’t she? She heard a snippet of what they were talking about as she moved away. Murderer. Maniac. Tried to kill her. Now in the clink. Gone mental.

Dani took her seat and glared over at Easton. He caught her eye and somewhat nervously stepped away from the group and came over to Dani.

‘Post lunch gossiping, DS Easton?’ Dani said.

Her harsh tone drew stares from the other men and their conversation suddenly became more hushed.

‘A possible lead actually,’ Easton said, his face creasing slightly at her coldness, though as ever he didn’t bring her up on it.

‘Yeah?’ Dani said, her ears pricking up.

‘Do you remember Professor Steven Grant?’

‘Should I?’

Easton glanced over his shoulder towards his chums, then back to Dani.

‘Seems his son, Ethan, was arrested last night.’

‘For what?’