‘Hey!’ Danny turned to see the same suited man who had taken the seat next to him. He was walking after him waving a piece of paper. Danny pushed his cigarette back into the packet. He lifted the collar on his jacket and dropped his chin. It was freezing cold. He didn’t like the cold. He wanted to make sure his new friend was aware of his discomfort.

‘Oh, did you want that autograph?’ Danny had made it far enough for the shadow to swallow him whole.

‘It’s not your autograph I want, Danny. I know who you are.’

‘You said that.’

‘I don’t mean Danny Evans the washed-up footballer. I mean, I know who you really are.’

‘What is this?’ Danny looked around, expecting the shadows to give up another assailant. This conversation suddenly had a very different feeling.

‘I know why you’re currently living in a hotel, drinking yourself into a stupor every night. I know that you had to get away from your wife, from your family. I know what happened, Danny. I know about Callie.’

Danny’s hands lifted out of his jacket pockets already bunched into fists. He took a step towards the suited man, who didn’t react – he didn’t step back or raise his own hands in defence. Danny managed to keep his fists by his side. He was no stranger to being the target for a windup.

‘What is this? You trying to get a smack off me? You should know, there’s nothing left. Wind me up and I will lash out but there’s no money. You’ll just end up with a busted jaw; a local headline if you’re lucky but they don’t pay nothing.’

‘I don’t want a smack, Mr Evans. I just wanted to get your attention. I can help you.’

‘We were talking, weren’t we? In there. You had my attention.’

‘I don’t like talking in places like that, I know better. And I wanted to be sure it was you. I’m a private investigator. I was hired by someone like you, someone who went through the same thing you and your family are going through. I have information, Danny. I have answers.’

‘Answers? What are you talking about?’

‘I know what happened to Callie. And I know why you can’t talk about it, why you lash out at anyone who even mentions your daughter’s name. She wasn’t the only one who suffered. There were others.’

Danny stepped towards the man, his foot scuffing the concrete, a stone kicked and rolled. The suited stranger flinched slightly this time, but still didn’t step back.

‘I don’t know you. And I barely trust the people I do know these days. I suggest you scurry away before you get that smack you came here for.’

‘I understand.’ The man held his hands up in surrender. ‘You’re right, you don’t know me.’