I carefully ripped off the parcel tape and opened the top of the box. Peering in to catch a glimpse of the contents, I instinctively jumped back, gasping in alarm. I dropped the box onto the table, my adrenaline revving into overdrive.

The box fell on its side, causing some of the contents to spill out onto the table.

It was jam-packed full of bees.

Dozens and dozens of dead bees.

My stomach contracted in horror and revulsion.

‘Do you think they were supposed to still be alive?’ I stammered, trying to cling on to any possibility that this was not what I thought it was.

‘It’s a sealed box. I can’t imagine anyone being stupid enough to think bees could survive being sent through the post in these conditions.’ Daniel picked up the box and gently tipped a few more out onto the table. ‘And if you’d opened a box of live bees, wouldn’t that be worse?’

I allowed a moment to imagine quite how much worse that scenario would be, before shutting it down as best as I could. Releasing a swarm of bees into the kitchen while Hope was here didn’t bear thinking about.

‘There’s a note,’ Daniel said, taking a card out from the bottom of the box.

‘I’ll read it,’ I blurted, reaching to take it off him, but he’d already scanned the message.

‘Happy birthday. Hope you get everything you deserve.’ Daniel scrunched up his face in disgust. ‘What? Do you know what this means? Who’s this from?’

I sank into a chair, feeling as though all the blood in my body had pooled around my feet. My head collapsed into quaking hands. ‘They won’t be from Ziva’s hives, will they?’ I managed to rasp the words through my seized-up throat.

Daniel pulled a chair up close to mine and took hold of my hand. ‘I hope not. But I’ll ask her to check.’

We stared at the pile of desiccated insects.

‘I can’t believe you’ve annoyed someone enough to go to this much trouble. If it was to do with Ferrington, surely they’d have done something weeks ago? Though it might be worth asking Alice if she’s had any unexpected packages.’

‘Did you tell anyone it was my birthday?’

Daniel shook his head. ‘No. I didn’t even mention it to Mum.’

After hasty messages to Becky and Alice, I quickly established that no one else in Ferrington knew it was my birthday.

‘I think we can safely rule those two out,’ Daniel said, grimly. ‘Who else knows you’re here?’

‘No one,’ I whispered, lost in a whirlwind of dread and disbelief. And the list of people who knew my birthday was not a long one.

‘So, who the hell sent this?’ Daniel’s face was set, all hard lines and clenched jaw. His scar stood out stark against his cheek. ‘What’s it supposed to mean, “I hope you get what you deserve”?’

I took a deep breath. Now was the time. I had to be brave, and honest, and if it meant the best birthday ever became the worst, then so be it. I steeled my spine in preparation.