‘I’m afraid this is as far as you lot go,’ said Mitch to an audible groan of disappointment from the reporters. ‘I know, I know, we’re all disappointed but we have a possible crime scene that I don’t want disturbed.’ Pointing, he continued, ‘Roper here, and Big Jim, will stay behind to prevent any of you good folk from attempting to follow us. I don’t want you getting lost out here. I know what can happen.’

Mitch’s mask fell, briefly. Chandler couldn’t see it but the tremor in his former friend’s voice said it all. Mitch remembered.

Handcuffed and under watch, Gabriel led the trek to the burned-out cabin, Erin and Yohan charged with sticking close by him in case he attempted to escape.

Chandler picked up the rear alongside Flo and Luka. The pair had struck up an immediate friendship, both young and disgustingly pretty. They whispered to each other, discussing the case, believing that they couldn’t be overheard.

‘It’s all a ruse,’ said Luka, dodging a low branch. ‘A wild goose chase with nothing at the end. A prank they can’t back out of.’

Flo half-shrugged her slim shoulders, her black hair crinkled in the heat, her dark skin glowing in the sun. She had a different angle. ‘If that’s the case what are Mr Johnson and Mr Barwell getting out of it? Are they fantasists?’

Luka’s shrug matched hers. ‘Maybe they wanted to create the perfect crime; maybe they even believe they have committed the perfect crime, without having committed one at all.’

‘For what though?’

‘For something to do? To write a book about it?’

Her hand snaked out to touch his arm. ‘It’s one way to get a book deal, I guess. “My time locked up as a serial killer.” ’

Luka doubled down by putting his free hand on hers, risking his balance on the rocky ground, risking it being slapped away.

‘Anything’s possible.’

Despite feeling a mix of envy and nausea as he watched the young love blossom before him, another idea popped into Chandler’s skull. Even more outlandish than theirs had been, but just as conceivable. What if their pair of suspects were wangling for a false imprisonment lawsuit? They’d already been held in custody longer than was legal without access to a lawyer or any form of representation. Maybe this was what they were counting on. Stall and stall, give half-truths or no-truths, let it fizzle into nothing and sue the department later. Make off with a generous settlement and/or book deal as Luka suggested. Once they got off this hill, Chandler decided that he would need to get on to the magistrate quickly to smooth things over, something Mitch didn’t seem to care about, a bloodhound on the trail, blinkered to anything around him.