‘It was seen, by some, as evidence that the Ripper was a Mason; the shape of the compass is traditionally seen as the top and bottom of the pentagram. It’s all about precision and craft, that’s why they use the symbol; they and hundreds of others like them. The theory was discounted. Now they believe that it wasn’t someone educated or of noble birth at all, but of course, the energy that went into those theories at the time probably enabled the real killer to escape. The most logical explanation is that he was a foreign meat handler or barber who scarpered off to New York afterwards.’

‘Are you serious about the Jack the Ripper killings being in a pentagram?’ Johnny asked.

‘It’s not something that’s been used widely in fiction; the rituals, alleged prostitution and disembowelment have taken more airtime,’ said Demi. ‘Whatever you’re cooking, it smells divine,’ she added.

‘I’m not saying this is a copycat at all, it’s just helpful to have a precedent to compare to, right Demi? Here we go. Look.’

Demi and Johnny watched as Kelly opened Rob’s app and imposed a pentacle – the pentagram within a perfect circle – over a map of the northern Lakes.

‘OK, so there’s Mary’s house, and here is where Carry Tomlin was found at Thirlmere. I thought Birkett Mire or Threlkeld Quarry looked promising.’ Kelly showed Johnny. ‘The other end is Borrowdale Valley.’

‘It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,’ Johnny said. Demi agreed.

‘Do you think it’s significant that Castlerigg stone circle is inside the circle?’

They looked at the map. The ancient monument was indeed inside the shape, towards the top, and not too far away from the same longitude as Braithwaite and Threlkeld Quarry.

‘The girl who was found is – we think – called Daphne. If we were to find her, then perhaps we’d find her father,’ Kelly said.

‘But the top of the star is pure rock face,’ Johnny said. He pointed to the vast expanse of Lonscale Fell. ‘If your circle is proportioned properly. And it’s a massive if isn’t it? What if the points of the star are different to what you’re assuming?’ he asked.

‘Or upside down?’ said Demi.

‘Exactly,’ said Kelly. ‘And there’s barely a week left until autumn equinox.’

Chapter 52

Fred O’Reilly was formally brought to Eden House for questioning on the morning of Friday 16 September. He wasn’t best pleased, but had waived his right to a lawyer. This made Kelly’s life easier. Lawyers had nasty habits of making a suspect clam up in the most unhelpful of ways. She appreciated the need for transparency but she’d seen members of the legal community, too many times, nursing suspects through to lesser sentences for serious crimes. It was something they had to navigate.