‘You want me to go now? On my daughter’s birthday?’

‘No! Goodness no. All the actions you would expect are in hand. CSI haven’t even attended yet; the scene’s being held by uniform … This is handled until at least tomorrow morning.’

‘Tomorrow morning?’

‘Absolutely! You could even take the weekend, get the official handover on Monday. The CID team who have been running the investigation are on until Tuesday. Now then …’ The superintendent brought her phone out to fiddle with it. ‘I’ve just sent you the contact details for the DS on scene so you can make contact with him tonight if you want to.’

‘Tonight?’ Joel was aware he was now smiling.

‘I know what you’re like, Joel. I thought you might want the option. But for now you should get back to your thing.’

‘My daughter’s birthday,’ Joel reminded her.

‘Exactly that. Anything else you need right now?’

‘Joel?’ Joel heard his wife call. She was standing among the throng with her hands on her hips, seemingly taking in the superintendent from head to toe before fixing back on him. ‘Are you coming back? We’re doing the cake. Now.’ She didn’t wait for an answer. Joel sighed towards his boss.

‘Maybe a marriage counsellor,’ he said.

Chapter 7

‘Hey! Good to see you!’ Danny said, managing to muster the strength to greet his wife. It was 10 a.m. and he was back holding Callie’s hand at her bedside. Sharon was usually at the hospital at this time and his slot was either first thing or later in the day. It had somehow become an acceptable routine for them both. But today Danny had found himself yearning for a friendly face – his wife’s specifically.

‘You look tired, Danny,’ Sharon said, skipping the niceties. He still hadn’t slept. He had hoped the cold shower and coffee had removed the exhaustion from his face. ‘You’re not normally here at this time either.’

‘And that’s ridiculous, isn’t it? We’re her parents, we should be here together. You made sure of it yesterday, I’m making sure of it today.’ Danny tried even harder to sound bright and alert.

‘I don’t think she’s too aware who’s here or when at the moment,’ Sharon said.

‘We don’t know that for sure, and I meant for us. Constantly coming here separately makes no sense to me. We’re both struggling, we should at least have each other.’

‘Have each other?’

Danny tutted, coffee always makes him talk fast. He still wasn’t thinking straight either. It was a bad combination. ‘I don’t mean … just that we still need to be there for each other, even if it’s just a day a week. I know I need it sometimes, you must too?’ He stopped, waiting for her reply, knowing that he was starting to sound desperate and out of character.