Without even thinking, Dani grabbed the figure’s wrist and swivelled herself around. She pulled the wrist up against the shoulder and strained the elbow and shoulder joint to the point of bursting. At the same time she heaved forwards and pushed the person up against the wall.

‘Dani, what the hell are you doing?’

‘Jason?’ she said, as her brain finally caught up with her body’s instinctive defensive reaction. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘What do you think! I came to see you. I’ve been calling for days. You called back earlier but my battery went.’

‘How did you get inside?’

‘Someone else was coming out. The door was open. Jesus, Dani, let go of my arm!’

Dani did so, and Jason turned to her and rubbed his stricken limb. Thoughts cascaded through Dani’s mind. Jason being there at that moment was convenient, to say the least. But the coincidence was more plausible than the note having been from him.

Wasn’t it?

Dani looked up and noticed Jason staring down at her hand. She slipped the note she was still clutching behind her back, out of sight. He didn’t say anything about it.

‘Who opened the door?’ Dani asked.

‘What door?’

‘The door to the bloody building, Jason! Who let you in? Describe them to me.’

‘I… I don’t know,’ Jason looked over his shoulder, to the door and through the glass to the outside. There was certainly no one in sight anymore. ‘I wasn’t really paying attention. It was just some guy. He didn’t look suspicious or anything. What’s going on, Dani?’

She turned away. ‘Nothing.’

‘Yeah, of course not. You’ve just taken to heavy-handedly policing your apartment block for a spot of fun.’

Dani turned and glared at Jason and the thin smile that had accompanied his light-hearted comment quickly faded.

‘I came to see if you’re ok,’ he said.

Dani snorted. The answer to that one was plain for anyone to see.

‘Why don’t we go upstairs?’ he suggested.

‘Nah,’ Dani said. ‘I think I’ll lurk down here for a few hours more. In case there are any more invaders.’

She pulled her fists up to her body, like a boxer on the defensive.

The quizzical look on Jason’s face suggested he wasn’t quite sure whether she was being serious or not.

Dani shook her head in disbelief.

‘Come on then,’ she said, turning away and moving towards the lift.

But there was no way Dani could relax, even once they were both safely inside her apartment. She stood in the hallway, her mind in turmoil.

‘Dani, seriously, what’s going on?’ Jason said.

Dani said nothing, just focused on keeping her hands steady as she held the note out for Jason to see.

Chapter Forty-Five