She started the car and pulled away. She figured it was time now to spell it out and she told him about her conversations with Demi and The Teacher, about balance, control, and, again, about the significance of the pentagram. Johnny sat in silence.

‘The next one will be full of rage,’ Kelly said.

‘You’re expecting five? How do you do this? It doesn’t matter how many people you put away, there’s always more out there.’

‘That’s why I do it.’

She called Kate and Rob on hands-free to find out where they were, and tell them she was on her way.

‘Look for the air symbol. It could be anywhere: on the ground, on the rock, in the trees, on the body.’ She winced and checked herself, aware of Johnny sat beside her. She altered her voice to a whisper and put her left hand on Johnny’s lap. He held it and nodded. He knew it was necessary.

‘Has the body been moved yet?’ she asked quietly.

‘Yes, it was taken by the emergency services. No one thought that it could be anything else but an accident.’

‘Fuck.’ She swore under her breath. ‘Where’s he been taken?’

‘Penrith and Lakes.’

‘Call them and make sure no one touches him, and call the coroner: Ted Wallis. No one else.’

‘Right, boss. I spoke to the first responder and they’re still on the scene, making sure no one gets anywhere near. CSI is on route from Cockermouth and they’re bringing a forensic officer with them. The three climbers who gave statements about the rope are still there.’

‘Good.’

After the call, Kelly glanced at Johnny.

‘Tell me what happened,’ she asked. He began slowly, trying to remember every last detail. She took it in, and tried to picture the scene. He spoke quietly and mechanically. Kelly tried to concentrate on the road, but what she really wanted to do was pull over and hold him, and tell him that it was all right to cry, or scream, or kick something. She felt the burden of his pain. He outlined what he’d seen.

‘So, no one was at the top of the rock face. Isn’t that unusual?’

‘Kev would have been, as the lead climber. It’s a training face, nothing should have presented a problem for him. He said he’d already checked the ropes and the route up. He was no amateur. If he said those ropes were sound, then they were.’

‘What other ways are there up to the top apart from climbing?’

‘You’d have to walk through the trees on the other side.’

‘Would you need a vehicle? Where would you park?’

‘It’d depend on where you came from. There’s plenty of bothies and cottages around about. If you drove, I suppose it’d be Watendlath, but that’s a long walk.’

‘Not for someone not in a hurry.’

‘Fleeing a murder scene?’