Chapter Twenty-Four

Leaving Natasha’s, Jane heads home, excited when Dexter offers help. She stocks snacks and welcomes him. They catch up on his distant relationship with his father and her plan to gather the stepchildren. Jane recaps her investigation, from the hoodie and Waterside Academy to Jessamine’s student film and tense encounters with Stuart Tucker.

Feeling stalled, Jane and Dexter debate next steps. Jane hesitates to involve Tony’s fixer and opts for careful, direct inquiries. They agree to question neighbors while protecting any vulnerable party, crafting a cover story that Dexter is an old school friend of the missing girl, whose first name might be floral—possibly Daisy.

They door-knock along the terrace. After two dead ends, a stylish man and his tall son, George, respond. When Dexter mentions Waterside Academy and Jessamine, they identify the girl as Daisy Black and indicate the end house. George says he saw Daisy daily at primary school, then less after changing schools, and notes he hasn’t seen her much since lockdown; she may have moved out.

The neighbors describe a troubled household: Jessamine was rarely around, Stuart acted as Daisy’s primary carer, and police visited during the first lockdown, leaving a bad atmosphere. George recalls Daisy became withdrawn afterward and left after lockdown ended. The man advises steering clear, while George suggests Daisy felt closest to Stuart. Jane registers the nuance, realizing her assumption of Stuart as sole antagonist may be wrong.