‘What do you mean?’ They left the circle and ran north towards the fields separating the ancient monument from the main road. They crossed a tiny single carriageway road and on into more fields.

‘Satan worship, ritual sacrifice, symbols and signs… you know, Tarot cards and that sort of thing. The journalist is basically theorising that Mary Hales was into all of that and died as a consequence of it.’

‘It’s a huge topic. It’s not all one thing is it? Was she into it?’

‘We think she might have been, but to what extent we just don’t know. But do you believe in it?’

‘That it happens? Yes. Of course. People always want to believe that spirits exist. It’s comforting. But I don’t believe that you can conjure them or anything whacky like that. Don’t tell me you’re being persuaded?’ He asked.

‘It’s just odd that I keep seeing evidence of weird markings and symbols at the crime scenes of a few cold cases, and at Mary Hales’ house.’

‘I take it that information is unknown to the public?’

‘Of course. It’s something I don’t even understand. Rob reckons she had a Pagan altar, and he’s convinced me.’

They didn’t speak for a few minutes and she could tell that he was thinking.

‘Maybe you shouldn’t confuse their beliefs with the case: the two could be unconnected entirely. It’s like a murder of a Catholic person or a Jewish person automatically being linked to their faith: it’s not more or less likely than any other theory. Keep it in mind and investigate it like you do best. The answers will come.’ He smiled reassuringly and she nodded. Their snippets of chat, chewing over sticky elements of her work, were moments of pleasure not because of the subject matter but because they got to spend time together talking, and he always made her feel better. It was a connection that they shared, and it was valuable in a hectic world.

‘When does Josie get to climb outdoors?’

‘I’ve paid for her to go to a relatively small test climb near Sharp Edge on Blencathra.’

‘Sharp Edge!’

‘It’s not what it sounds like.’

Sharp Edge was one of the most challenging scrambles in the entire district and cherished by climbers.

‘She won’t do it all, it’s just a section and it’s low down. Then on Friday she goes to somewhere called Woden’s Face.’

‘I’ve never heard of it.’

‘Neither had I. It’s down in the Borrowdale valley.’

‘And is Callum going?’ Johnny had told Kelly what he knew of Josie’s mystery love interest who she’d met at the climbing centre.

‘He is.’

‘Can you remember your first love?’ she asked. They continued to follow a low dry-stone wall along a field to the east of the stone circle.