‘The 999 call for the burglary came in pretty rapidly considering no one had spotted a man staying there for a week. Who made the original call, do we know?’

‘I don’t believe they gave a name, guv.’

Emma turned off the main road and entered the single track that led to the car park for Cat Bells. The tiny peak was a favourite with families, and the route was busy already. Kelly could see the snaking line of bright jackets making its way up to the top: the best view of Derwent and beyond. It was a good training run for Johnny, because it had a path all the way up, it was usually clear, and it was a sharp ascent. She’d been up there a few times with him, and tourists had stared at them as if they were lunatics. They turned off again, down a private lane, and came to large wooden gates and a slate sign reading: Allerdale House. Private.

There was an intercom and Kelly rang it, introducing herself. Sebastian Montague-Roland was expecting them. The gates opened and Emma drove through slowly.

‘Christ, there’s some money around here, guv.’

Most of the tourists visiting the National Park never saw this side of the Lakes and had no idea that a lot of the land was privately owned, dished out by nobles since the time of William the Conqueror and maintained by the mining of stone and valuable minerals until there was none left. Allerdale House was resplendent in its surety. The grey slate gave an austere feel, but the grandeur of the design itself said otherwise. Beams, gables and sloping roofs framed the vast house, surrounded by pretty gardens and thoughtful features. The place stank of money. Many of the notable houses in the Lakes had been sold to rich bankers from London, or royalty from the Middle East, but a few, like this one, had remained in the hands of the original owners. It must cost a fortune to maintain.

They went to the main door, which was answered before they were able to knock. A man in his forties stood there, and they could see police uniforms behind him. He held out his hand.

‘Sebastian Montague-Roland. Come inside and join the Cumbria Constabulary party, Detective Porter.’ It was a peculiar welcome, given the severity of the circumstances.