Baxter shook his head. ‘DI Stephens, I do hope you’ll remain co-operative through this process. It will only hurt your prospects if you choose to do battle with us.’

‘Point clearly understood. Thank you for the warning.’

‘We’ll need your ID before you go. You are to refrain from any and all contact with regards to this matter with other members of the force during the investigation period. DCI McNair will show you out.’

Dani gritted her teeth. ‘Understood.’

She turned and put her hand on the door.

‘And Stephens?’ Baxter said. Dani gritted her teeth as she awaited the parting comment. ‘Please continue with your scheduled appointments with Dr Scholz in the meantime. What happened yesterday can’t have been easy on you.’

Dani said nothing. Just opened the door and looked out across the team, and prepared herself for the walk of shame.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Dani was still shaking as she traipsed back across central Birmingham to her apartment, her head throbbing from pent-up rage, but also from immense remorse.

Of course she understood the seriousness of the situation. A man had lost his life. Was that because of her actions? Well, yes, if she hadn’t chased him he would more than likely still be alive.

Why had she decided to chase him like that? Why hadn’t she called for backup? It was true that there were many things she could have done differently in the situation. That still didn’t mean she didn’t feel aggrieved at the way the force had seemingly turned against her at the first opportunity. Had McNair ever wanted Dani back on the team at all?

By the time she arrived home, Dani was all out of ideas as to where she went from here. What she did know was that she was hungry, thirsty and tired. Her only thought about what to do next was to go inside and eat and drink herself into delirium, to curl up into a little ball and lock herself away from the world like she had done for months. There was no doubt she’d come to find a certain safety and calm in solitude.

Dani bought a sandwich, two packets of crisps, three chocolate bars, two bottles of fruit cider and two bottles of white wine from the corner shop, then made her way up the stairs to her apartment, wryly telling herself that she may as well burn a few calories first. It was barely midday but once inside she poured a bottle of cider into a pint glass half filled with ice and took a big gulp, then went and sat down in the lounge to finish off the food.

It didn’t take her long. Not long after, she relaxed back into the sofa, in silence, staring out of the window at the sky, greying as a storm approached.