‘These weren’t exactly her words, but the impression I got was that Detective Stephens thinks there’s a serial killer on the loose in Birmingham.’

‘Does she now?’ Mary said, laughing mockingly.

Grant felt a little offended, though he wasn’t sure why. He explained about the note Dani had brought with her. He went over their conversation, and Mary seemed keenly interested. It was true Grant felt immensely lucky to have found a woman in Mary who had tolerated his oddities over the years. Mary always at least humoured him, even if she didn’t really enjoy discussing his subject of interest.

Dani Stephens had.

Maybe that was because the detective was forever trying to analyse why her brother – her twin brother at that – was a sociopath.

‘Well good for you, Steven. Now you’re an official asset to the police.’

‘Not exactly,’ Grant said.

‘How do you mean?’

‘It seems she’s acting on her own. She’s been suspended.’

Grant briefly explained what he knew about that. Mary didn’t say much in response.

‘Do the police think Ethan killed that man?’ Mary asked. ‘Paul Reeve?’

Grant shrugged. ‘She didn’t say that, exactly. But they know he’s connected somehow.’

Mary opened her mouth to say something else but Grant put his finger on her lips.

‘That’s enough about Ethan. I’ve managed to get through most of today without thinking about him.’

‘Yeah. Why don’t you go get your pasta, then come back up to bed.’

Grant smiled, then got up. He headed downstairs to the kitchen where his bowl of cold spaghetti was sitting next to the microwave. He slung it in to cook on high for two minutes, then went to find some parmesan in the fridge. As he closed the door he realised there was someone standing right there in the doorway off to his left.

He spun to face the figure. His heart lurched…

It was Mary.

‘Jesus!’

She put a finger to her lips.

‘There’s someone out the front,’ she whispered.

‘What?’

He put the block of cheese down then moved through the hall and into the dining room. Standing behind the curtains, he peered out and scanned the driveway, the street outside and the houses on the other side of the road.

‘I don’t see anything,’ he said.

He turned back to Mary who looked less than convinced.

‘I’m telling you, there was someone out there! In the front garden. Staring up at the house.’

‘Why were you even looking out the window?’

‘I heard a noise! Like a scraping or rustling.’

Grant looked at her questioningly.

‘Do you think I’m making this up?’

‘No, I—’

‘For fuck’s sake, there was someone out there, spying on us! I bet it was that bloody Ed Francis.’