Dani took in the largely grubby-looking terraced row. On the ground floor was a small parade of shops; a newsagent, a downtrodden Caribbean cafe, a barber shop and a nail bar. The nail bar looked glitzy and shiny compared to everything else there, clearly the newest and most thriving of the small businesses. Above, on the first floor, were flats, reached by a door from the street, which was standing open.

Looking at the building, Dani felt that this was such a vast world away from the well-to-do village of Knowle with its array of executive homes, where Ethan Grant’s parents lived. How had their son wound up here?

‘The flat is rented,’ Easton said as they stopped by the open door. ‘Current registered tenant is a James Colton.’

‘You’re kidding?’ Dani said.

‘Not at all. The landlord turned up when he saw the police cars. Mr Assad. He lives across the street. His tenant background checks aren’t exactly thorough, given the documents he showed us, so it’s still anybody’s guess as to whether there really is a James or Jimmy Colton.’

What on earth was the story with Colton? Dani wondered.

‘Ok, that’s all good info, Easton, but tell me what happened to you. Who did this?’

‘I honestly don’t know. DC Constable and I—’

‘He’s here?’

‘Yeah, he’s over there.’

Dani followed Easton’s line of sight to the young man, who was talking to a uniformed female officer. Talking? More like flirting, Dani thought.

‘Hard at work, I see,’ Dani said.

‘Yeah,’ was all Easton said to that. ‘Anyway, we were just approaching the door here. I was reaching out to ring the bell when the door suddenly sprang open. There was a man standing there. But I didn’t get a good look, it all happened so quickly.’

‘Any description at all?’

‘I didn’t really see his face. About my height, build. Blue hooded sweatshirt. White trainers. He looked like a… a normal guy.’

‘Age?’

‘I really can’t say.’

‘Well that’s pretty bloody useless, isn’t it?’ Dani said, her harsh tone unintentional.

Easton frowned and Dani shook her head and looked away. Had it really been such a sudden attack, or had Easton been too distracted by something else to have taken notice?

Perhaps he and Constable had spotted a young lady in a short skirt crossing the street, she thought, glaring over at Constable for a second, though she’d come to expect more of Easton than that.

‘Are you ok, boss?’ Easton asked.

‘I’m fine,’ Dani said, sounding anything but.

She quickly thought about her pills. When had she last taken them? Standing on the street she could feel her mind fogging over, her irritability peaking, her mood taking on a sharp edge.