More than three hours later, darkness fully descended, but the crash site lit up brighter than day with portable spotlights, Dani was still on the scene, along with a large crew of traffic police who had by then largely taken charge of the situation. Jason had stayed too, and Dani had to admit she was grateful for that. The side of the road consumed by the crash was still closed, and would be for a while longer, but the police had managed to move the gridlocked traffic from behind the crash site one vehicle at a time, having them turn around and drive the wrong way to the nearest junction. The opposite side of the road remained jam-packed with evening commuters leaving the city, the traffic backing up way past as far as the eye could see as natural voyeuristic instincts took over and people slowed to survey the grisly scene.

Dani headed back over to a police car where Easton was busy chatting to a uniformed PC. She’d just taken an update from the traffic officer in charge of the scene. Forensics would be some time yet recording everything they needed before the damaged vehicles could be removed, but the update she’d received had at least told her that there’d been no other fatalities. Yet.

She’d also spoken to McNair on the phone three times to brief her. McNair had been friendly enough, though Dani was sure there would be a lot more grilling to come. She’d be required to give formal statements. There’d no doubt be an inquiry into what had happened.

She really didn’t want to think about that right now.

‘All good?’ Easton said.

‘Not exactly,’ Dani said. ‘Why did he run?’ she asked, as much to herself as to Easton.

‘It wasn’t your fault, Dani. And anyone who asks will get that answer from me.’

His words of support were comforting, but the potential repercussions were still worrying.

Anyone who asks will get that answer from me.

But he hadn’t seen what had happened. He’d already told her – he was running across the playground when he heard the smash. So was he saying he’d lie for her?

Did she want him to?

Jason came over and Easton wandered off.

‘Maybe we should go. Not sure we’re of much use here now.’

Dani wanted to be taking a more active role, but the truth was she didn’t know how, yet she was struggling to pull herself away even though she knew the officers on site had everything under control.

‘Come on then,’ she eventually said.

They walked back to the chainlink fence. The image of the man racing into the road flashed in her mind again and she stopped and squeezed her eyes shut to try and clear it from her mind.

‘Dani, are you ok?’ Jason asked.

‘I really don’t know.’

‘Come on, let’s get back to your car.’