‘I need to speak to the coroner. I know him so I’ll see if I can get him to come in over the weekend.’

‘Cosy up there is it?’

‘You could say that. He’s my father.’

‘Well, well. Keep it in the family. Let me know and I’ll get back to you first thing with my initial thoughts.’

‘Thanks, Demi. You’re a diamond.’

‘Bye, Kelly.’

They hung up.

Kelly had made the call on her way home. She would have loved to have joined Johnny and Josie but she feared that Josie might read something from her face, and even perhaps see the gruesome brutality that she’d witnessed only an hour before. She headed home and poured herself a large glass of red wine. Johnny understood her need to be alone.

On her terrace, the night air rushed from the cold lake beyond through the gaps in the wooden plinths, and she pulled a blanket over herself to examine the images from the crime scene on her Toughpad.

There was nothing more she could do tonight to move the investigation forward. That was, apart from think about it. Uniforms were swarming around Braithwaite scouring for information, and at this stage, that was all they had. It was a punishment killing; that much was clear. Appearances always deceive, thought Kelly, but this woman was the epitome of gentleness and compassion. Animals, garden, home, her books and even her bedroom: everything shouted care and love. Maybe that was the problem. She needed to find out who this woman had wronged, and how.

Chapter 20

‘It’s an excuse to spend some time with you, Kelly.’

Ted spoke quietly as Kelly drove. They left the mountains behind them as they approached the M6 and one could just have easily been driving around the north circular as anywhere. Kelly gripped the wheel and bit her lip. Images of the woman’s body hadn’t left her all night: her face, her chest, and her animals.

‘I’m glad we get to do this,’ Kelly responded, looking in her mirrors. ‘Even if it’s under grim circumstances.’

‘I’m not having a trainee carry out a murder case. It’s not fair. I don’t think it’s grim. It’s only work.’

‘If you say so.’

Ted had agreed to perform the post-mortem operation on Mary Hales on Saturday morning as Kelly’s team held an emergency briefing at Eden House. She’d dragged them back in from their weekend and left DS Kate Umshaw in charge. Kate’s recent display of leadership had impressed her boss. Umshaw was more than capable. It was all about due process and Kate was by-the-book. Besides, Kelly could join the meeting at any time, should she need to. At this stage, a murder inquiry was all about dishing out jobs and gathering information. It was the most tense but also, potentially, the most rewarding time, but, Jesus, it was busy.