Dani shook her head, trying to flush from her mind the memories of herself and Ben, angry that she’d slipped back to that mostly happy and far more innocent period of her life.

Or had it only appeared innocent? Had Ben been a monster even then?

Dani stepped over discarded crockery and moved over to the two sash windows in the lounge. One was covered with a makeshift curtain that looked like a plain old bed sheet tacked to the window frame. The other window had a tatty venetian blind. Dani used the tips of her fingers to spread apart two of the slats on the blind and looked down to the street below. A PC was already in the process of rolling away the police tape. Only one of the squad cars remained. Two officers were helping the old lady into the back, probably to give her a lift home. The bystanders were slowly filtering away, disappointed that the fun was over.

Someone caught Dani’s attention. A hooded figure standing away from the crowd. Lurking. Clearly interested in what was happening, like the others, but being more discreet about it.

Not quite discreet enough, though.

Was he – at least Dani thought it was a he – the reason for the sinister sensation she’d experienced moments before? Her natural sixth sense, a barometer for danger?

Ok, perhaps that was a bit dramatic, but nonetheless Dani hurried out of the flat and back to the stairs. She raced down them and when she reached the bottom Easton was just moving towards the entrance, his head turned away as he shouted an instruction to Constable. Not looking, he almost collided with Dani.

‘Easton, watch out!’

She held her arm out to stop him and their chests bumped. Easton jumped in shock and then rolled his eyes. At his own klutziness, Dani assumed.

‘Sorry, Dani. I didn’t see you.’

Dani held her hand up and shook her head, showing she wasn’t interested in his apology.

Dani discreetly looked over his shoulder to the man across the street who was now half hidden behind a parked van. He was wearing different clothes to the man Easton had described – blue trainers and a grey hooded top, the hood pulled right over his head so nothing could be seen of his face.

‘Behind you on your left. By the van, wearing a hoodie. Could that be the guy?’ she asked.

Easton glanced over briefly. ‘Different clothes but… I really don’t know.’

The man casually walked away.

‘Come on,’ Dani said.

Easton said nothing more but headed off a step behind Dani as they crossed the street. By the time they got over to the other side and around the van, the man was ten yards in front, walking with more purpose.

After a few seconds he glanced over his shoulder. He spotted Dani and Easton.

And he ran.

Chapter Thirty-Two