With the sun continuing its slow rise, the bright rays of low sunlight peeking through the gaps in the buildings and the trees shone directly in Dani’s face as she walked, making her already stabbing headache even worse. She winced and held her hand up to her face to shade her eyes.

Even with the glare of the sun and her squinting eyes, it wasn’t difficult to spot where she was headed because of the gaggle of people that were gathered – police officers, paramedics and also several members of the public. Blue and white police tape stretched right across the street, blocking access to pedestrians and traffic. Three marked police cars and an ambulance were parked up in front of the cordon as Dani approached. One or two of the pedestrians looked at her questioningly as she strode up.

The uniformed police officer who moved quickly to intercept Dani had a similar expression, until Dani whipped out her ID and held it aloft. The PC nodded then stepped away as Dani scuttled under the police tape. To her right, beyond a low metal garden gate, and tucked behind a privet hedge, was a seven-foot high white tent. Dani headed for it.

She walked past three forensic specialists, dressed head to toe in white, who were crouched low on the street and in the small front garden, searching for footprints or fibres or body tissues or fluids – any evidence that could be of importance. They’d come to the scene surprisingly quickly. Dani had requested their presence based upon the sparse information that had been relayed to her on the phone earlier, and they had clearly lost no time in attending the scene. She ignored them for now, and they all ignored her too as they focussed on their painstaking searches.

Dani continued towards the tent.

‘DI Stephens,’ Dani heard someone call out.

She stopped and turned and saw an unfamiliar man walking up to her – late twenties, she guessed, and wearing a long thick grey overcoat. A newbie DS, Dani thought. His youthful face held a carefree expression rather than the worn-down look of many more experienced officers. His face was kind though, with big deep brown eyes, a pinched nose and a dimpled chin.

He held out his hand.

‘I’m DS Easton,’ he said.

She noticed Easton stare up at her hairline, above her ear. She wondered how much he’d already heard about her. Dani shook his hand. ‘First names are fine. You can call me Dani.’

‘Sure, I’m Aaron then.’

‘Nice to meet you, Aaron. So what can you tell me?’