‘And what about the things at Harland’s house? The knife? The clothes? Jesus, Dani, your fingerprints are on a murder weapon.’

‘I’ve… I’ve no idea how that happened.’

‘You searched that apartment, didn’t you? The day Harland was killed?’

‘It wasn’t a search. I just had a look around.’

‘And did you pick anything up? That knife? It wasn’t in your notes that you did anything like that.’

Dani slumped, confusion taking over. ‘I don’t think so but… no, I really don’t think I did.’

‘Don’t think?’

‘No, I didn’t, ok!’

‘You’re absolutely sure? You’re on your meds still, aren’t you? Could they have clouded your recall?’

Dani’s face screwed in anger. She was about to bite back, but really, she didn’t know what the right answer was. Had she taken her meds that day? Were her memories solid and… real? There were plenty of times since the accident when she’d hallucinated, or where reality had blurred, but that had all been many months ago. Hadn’t it?

‘I’m as sure as I can be,’ Dani said, sounding anything but. ‘Unless I really am going mad.’

She dropped down onto the sofa, her head a muddled mess. All of those times she’d thought she was being watched. Her leaps to believing there was a serial killer out there. Was it all the meds talking? Or was it even just her mangled brain?

‘Jessica Bradford knew Steven Grant,’ she said.

‘What?’

‘Grant said the name meant nothing to him, but her friend told me the two of them had had a one-on-one meeting not long ago.’

‘Dani, what the hell? You’re suspended. Do you have any idea how much shit you’ll be in if McNair knows you’ve been out speaking to witnesses?’

‘I’m not going to sit around while a murderer is out there taunting me!’

‘But Jessica Bradford’s not even missing, never mind a murder victim. We’ve already been over that.’

‘Not missing? Then where the bloody hell is she?’

Dani slumped back. Her head was pounding. She couldn’t take this anymore. She shot up from the sofa and stormed out and into the en suite, slamming the door behind her. She turned on the taps in the sink then opened the cupboard and stared at the pill bottles.

She wanted to be strong, but she really needed the release. She needed the clarity of mind, too. She grabbed two different bottles, opened one and threw some pills into her hand and then into her mouth without even seeing how many she’d grabbed. She ducked her head under the water, swallowed, then did the same with the next bottle. She slammed the bottles onto the side, shut off the taps then stared at herself in the mirror for a few seconds. Ashamed.