Kelly’s desk phone alerted her to an incoming call and she hoped that it would be the psychologist with whom she’d worked in London. It was. Dr Demi Cramer had worked on criminal profiles for the Met for close to twenty-five years. Kelly had already emailed her the information they had and she was hoping that Dr Cramer had chewed it over. If nothing else, it was an excuse to catch up.

‘In forty-eight hours, the case will be downgraded. She looks over eighteen and she left the hospital of her own free will,’ Kelly said.

‘Why get caught in the first place? And you say she’s mute and amnesic?’

‘The hospital didn’t have time to make a full assessment but initial evaluation diagnosed her with Transient Global Amnesia,’ Kelly read from her screen.

‘Bullshit,’ Demi Cramer said.

Kelly was used to Demi’s style and the brusqueness didn’t bother her. ‘Why do you say that?’ she asked.

‘They didn’t even do an MRI. Transient Global Amnesia is almost unheard of outside textbooks in a young healthy girl. Certainly not one who stops to take her clothes off and leave them in a rather neat pile, then enjoys a comfortable and lengthy stay in a hospital bed. She is the last candidate for the condition, which is temporary. Also somebody with a bout of TGA usually can’t shut up: they’re confused and jabbering and a general pain in the arse.’

‘Great.’

‘What were her eyes like? I presume you met her?’

‘Briefly. They were scared.’

‘Someone with TGA doesn’t show emotion. She was in control. Did she have an MRI?’

‘Don’t be silly, too expensive.’

‘EEG? ECG? CAT scan?’

‘Normal.’

‘And she never uttered a word?’

‘Nope. Nothing coherent.’

‘But she reacted when touched?’

‘Yes, she wouldn’t allow a body check or a rape kit.’

‘Control. She wanted to be found.’

‘But why?’

‘I don’t know, Kelly, that’s your job. How’s things up there in the valleys?’ Demi put on a terrible Welsh accent.

‘I’m in Cumbria, Demi.’

‘Is there a difference?’

‘Let’s get back to Carla Rigg, shall we? What about the location and time of day?’

‘Is she a witch?’

‘What?’

‘A white witch. I’ve come across it before, in Kent.’

‘They take their clothes off at dawn?’

‘Generally, yes. And in places of significance, such as forests, caves and natural landmarks.’

‘But Castlerigg isn’t natural, it’s man-made.’

‘Yes, but it celebrates nature, doesn’t it? The sun and the moon? I’ve been reading about it. I’d like to take a trip up there, Kelly. I’m writing a book and this Carla Rigg is someone I’d like to interview.’

‘We don’t even know who she is or where she is, Demi.’

‘Yes, but I know you’ll find her. And when you do, give me a call.’