But the reality was that Ethan Grant was a teenager still, had only recently left home, and even before he opened his mouth to answer, that realisation caused a horrible feeling to creep over Dani.

‘Just two, actually,’ Ethan said. He winked at Dani. ‘So far, that is.’

Thoughts crashed through Dani’s weary brain.

‘Natalya,’ Dani said as the pieces started to fall together and Steven Grant’s words echoed in her mind once more. ‘And Reeve? But not the others.’

Ethan’s slight grin told her the answer. Dani frowned, still deep in thought as the sequence of events continued to take shape in her mind. She thought through everything that had happened over the last few days. The last few months, even. The turmoil she’d gone through because of what her brother had done. The feelings of guilt and shame and anger and that need for revenge and to lash out that she’d tried so hard to keep hidden away. She thought about the visits to see Ben, the conversations and ideas about what made him a killer. She thought of Reeve and Natalya, their pale bodies in the morgue. The other bodies – Jessica Bradford, Grace Agnew, others? – who hadn’t been found. Lastly, she thought of those conversations she’d had with Steven Grant, the murder expert.

Steven Grant. The murder expert. The damaged soul.

‘There’s someone who’s been waiting to say hello,’ Ethan said, as though he’d been party to Dani’s thoughts.

He turned and crept out of sight. Dani heard the door at the top of the stairs open and close, and then all was silent.

She wasn’t going to sit there and wait for the next act. She squirmed and bucked against her restraints. No, there was simply no way she could get free of the cuffs on her wrists.

But Jason on the other hand…

‘Jason!’ Dani hissed, her voice a loud whisper. She was quite sure they were now alone in the room but she remained cautious nonetheless.

Not even a murmur from Jason.

‘Jason, wake up!’ Dani said.

If she could wake him, he could help. He only had simple cable ties securing his wrists and ankles. Yes, those things were damn secure, but if you knew how…

And Dani did.

The only problem was, Jason was out of it.

Was he drugged?

‘Jason, please,’ Dani said, her voice pleading and desperate.

He shivered and opened his eyes a fraction. His hands twitched.

‘Please,’ Dani said again.

Then she heard the door opening, somewhere beyond the spotlight. She heard footfalls, coming down the steps. More than one set.

Moments later Ethan Grant came back into view, a horrible smirk on his face.

‘DI Stephens… oh, and DI Barnes too. You’re awake. Well, that’s great, you’re just in time.’