‘So, they were up there for a quite a while. It has to be someone connected to the climbing club. Not many people would know about the exam unless you attended the club regularly. Plus a Fiat campervan was sighted there.’

Kelly’s phone pinged and she opened the text from DS Umshaw. The air symbol was like the others: a triangle. The difference was that it had a line drawn through it, and it reminded Kelly of a child’s drawing of a snow-capped mountain.

‘Bastard. It’s all just a game to him.’

‘What?’ Johnny asked. She showed him the symbol. ‘Fucking psycho. For what? Kev’s family destroyed for this? What does it mean?’

‘It means there are two elements left: earth and spirit.’

She called the control desk and asked for an update on the patrols checking Threlkeld Quarry. One hadn’t been there at all today so Kelly ordered one now. She’d prevent the fourth victim’s fate if she had to have officers camp at the fucking quarry all week.

It might not be a perfect pentacle. That might be the last joke.

The voice taunted her, and it was the voice of The Teacher.

Chapter 56

‘Guv, we’ve had a call come in from a Tesco delivery van saying that he reckons the photofits released match a family he saw at a farmhouse near Raven Crag. It’s called Great Raven Farm. We already sent a car there but they drew a blank. Do you want another sent?’

She and Johnny were returning to her car at the Bowderstone car park. Great Raven Farm was the abandoned pile registered to Harry O’Conner. But it was supposed to be empty.

‘What did the Tesco driver say? Could he have mixed up the address?’

‘He said that he’s delivered there a few times and it sticks in his mind because the family is, in his words, very odd. They’re unwilling to engage in conversation, barely open the door, demand he leaves the shopping outside and he said they wear unusual clothes.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘He said that the younger woman wears very large jumpers and it’s as if she’s disguising herself.’

‘Is he positive about the ID?’

‘He was pretty convincing. I’ve checked, guv; there are no other properties close.’

‘Does Tesco have the record of the deliveries?’

‘Yes, it’s the correct address.’

‘So why did our squad car report that the place is derelict and empty?’

‘Didn’t they say that some vehicles were locked in garages, it’s possible they’re squatters.’

‘I’ll request a warrant. Tesco would have a record if that food wasn’t taken in by someone. Somebody is in there.’

‘He said he saw three people.’

‘Over what period?’

‘About the last four weeks.’

All Kelly could think was that if this was Kirk Junker and his family, the girl might still be alive.