‘You know, it’s almost poetic justice that Mary spent so long trying to convince her son that he was a natural born killer, only for him to blow the whole operation open.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘Reeve and Natalya. They weren’t Mary’s M.O., and the killings weren’t to her standards, not by far. Ethan was raw and naive. I’d bet anything those notes I received were from him. To Ethan Grant this was all a sick game. He was impulsive and reckless, compared to Mary’s cold calculation.’

‘Ok, DI Stephens, I think I need to stop you there,’ Baxter said, sounding more stern now. ‘You know of course that the investigation into the Grants is at a very early stage and we’ll be taking formal statements from you in due course. I’d caution you to not go spouting your conjecture any further outside these walls.’

Dani’s cheeks reddened. She got the point. As in the case of Harland, Ethan and Mary had died at the hands of an active officer, and their deaths, and her conduct, had to be thoroughly investigated, no matter who the dead people were, or what they’d done.

The fact was, she didn’t feel in the least bit bad that both Ethan and Mary Grant were no longer breathing. As far as Dani was concerned they both got what they deserved, and she’d simply been fighting for her life in those moments at the warehouse. Would that be the police’s ultimate conclusion too?

‘Though…’ Baxter said, before taking a large inhalation. ‘I shouldn’t really say this, but I’ve got your back, Stephens. Everyone knows what happened and appreciates what you did. I’m sure the IOPC will come to the right conclusion.’

The comment flummoxed Dani and for a few seconds she just stared at Baxter.

‘Well, go on then,’ he said. ‘I have got other things to do today. McNair will show you out.’

‘Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.’

Dani got to her feet and headed for the door. With McNair at her side they walked in silence along the corridor of the top floor of HQ to the lifts.

‘Can we stop on the second floor?’ Dani asked when they stepped inside the lift.

‘I’m supposed to take you down to reception.’

‘And you will. But I want to wait for Barnes first. Please?’

‘Sorry, Dani.’

Dani sighed but didn’t bother to push.

On the ground floor McNair showed Dani through the security gates then made herself scarce. Dani sat down and was waiting for less than ten minutes before Jason appeared, coming out of one of the lifts beyond the gates. He wasn’t alone. A casually dressed man was walking with him. Dani had to double take when she realised who it was. Ed Francis.