Even after their chat earlier, she could sense that Jason wasn’t quite aligned with her thinking, that he was helping her more because he wanted to support her than anything else. But Dani felt sure she was close to uncovering something big. She just needed a lead to follow. Those notes meant something. To consider the writer of the notes as a real and imminent danger was the right thing to do, and to delve into a deep and dark world of murder in order to identify that person was absolutely necessary to Dani. Not because it would help to smooth over her relationship with the senior team at the police if she solved the murder cases, but because the case was personal for her. The notes had been left for her. Perhaps she was even a target.

Dani stepped from the taxi outside the Grants’ house, opened the gate and headed up the gravel drive. The last time she’d visited, she and Easton had come away with an address for Ethan Grant. The series of events which had followed on that day had seen Dean Harland killed out on a dual carriageway in Handsworth, and Dani suspended from the police. She felt slightly apprehensive about what might be the result of this visit.

The rain had stopped and it was still light outside as Dani crunched across the gravel to the front door, though the thick cloud in the sky meant that daytime was struggling to keep hold, and likely wouldn’t for much longer. Any remnants of summer now appeared well and truly over and autumn was without doubt in full swing.

Dani rang the bell then knocked on the door and only had to wait a few moments before it was opened and a skinny little teenage girl poked her head out.

‘Can I help you?’ she asked.

‘Is your dad home?’

‘Yes.’

The girl just stood there.

‘Do you think I could speak to him?’

‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Dani Stephens.’

Dani surprised herself by using her actual name rather than her police title. That was new. Was that the way of the future now?

The child still looked less than convinced, but a moment later Dani heard an adult voice and Mary Grant came into view from the kitchen.

‘Ah, Detective Stephens,’ Mary said, ‘Steven mentioned you were coming.’

Dani had called Grant’s mobile before she’d left the university. Grant hadn’t sounded thrilled that she wanted to speak to him again, but he hadn’t put up much of a fight either, and suggested she go to the house. The young girl rolled her eyes and turned and disappeared off somewhere.

‘Steven!’ Mary bellowed, before turning back to Dani. ‘He is here. Just pottering upstairs. Come and sit down.’

Mary showed Dani through into the lounge and she sat on a sofa.