They reached the National Trust car park at the Bowderstone and Kelly was reminded of a school trip, years ago. They’d all taken it in turns to climb the stone and pose for a picture. She must have been twelve.

‘How are you doing?’ Kelly asked. Johnny turned to look at her and undid his seat belt.

‘I’m all right. It’s Josie I’m worried about. And Kev’s family. I still don’t understand.’

‘You don’t have to do this now.’

‘I do. It’s the only opportunity to walk you through it step by step, while it’s still fresh.’

‘Come on.’ They got out and Johnny took Kelly along the path that he’d walked only hours before with his daughter and her boyfriend.

‘I can’t believe I did this today with Kev.’

‘Did you see anyone on your way to the face?’

‘No.’

‘Were you aware of anyone up top?’

‘No.’

They reached the scene and it was busy with officers being directed here and there, someone in a plastic suit, and a CSI mapping out the area, and Rob approached them. Police tape was tied up across trees and Kelly gave Johnny some plastic covers for his shoes.

‘DS Umshaw is up there,’ Rob said, and he shook Johnny’s hand. ‘Sorry, mate.’

‘How the hell did she get up there?’ Kelly asked. They all glanced overhead.

‘Some pulley system, guv. The climbers put it together. She was adamant about going up there, I did offer,’ he said. ‘You know how stubborn she is, guv.’

Kelly looked at the ground beneath them and her eyes were drawn to the earth directly underneath the rock face, which was stained dark red. She stood in front of Johnny’s line of sight. Already, several plastic evidence number markers had been placed in various spots. Kelly chatted to the first responding officer, who’d been here for about two hours now. She looked up and saw that there was a small gathering of people at the top of the face, and they communicated by radio to the first responder who’d taken charge. He showed Kelly a plastic bag containing a rope.

‘Can you see the cut?’

Kelly beckoned Johnny to take a look.

‘Jesus. That’s unequivocal,’ Johnny said. He bent down and rested on the backs of his legs, holding his head in his hands.

‘Any tracks up there leading away?’ Kelly asked.

‘None obvious, but your colleague up there has found what you were looking for carved into a tree.’

She stepped away and called Kate. ‘Guv?’

‘I’m here, but I’m not getting hoisted up to where you are. Why didn’t you send Rob up? He does this kind of thing all the time. What have you got for me?’

‘The air symbol. Much clearer and more precise than the rocks at Thirlmere or the blood at Braithwaite. This took some carving. I’ll send a picture.’