‘What is a flash, anyway?’ Becky asked, staring at the expanse of water ahead of them.

Tom was about to answer when Lynsey’s quiet voice came from behind: ‘There’s more than one here, although the one you can see is the biggest. I believe the lakes, or flashes, were formed as a result of mining subsidence.’

Tom saw Becky smile. He could see how much she liked this girl.

‘Thanks for that, Lynsey. I’m glad one of us knows,’ Tom said.

‘Sorry, sir, I’m not being a smart-arse. I looked it up on my phone while you were talking to Inspector Robinson.’

‘Don’t apologise; it shows initiative,’ Becky said. ‘Come on, let’s go and see what we’ve got.’

Tom looked around at the view. Such an attractive place, and undoubtedly popular. Apparently it had been cut off by the heavy snow for days, and only the most intrepid of folk were likely to venture here today, even though the access road had now been cleared. The weather was wicked with a fierce wind blowing the snow around in little flurries, and it was with some reluctance that Tom stepped out of the warm car.

The young police officer, walking more carefully now, approached them.

‘Sir, it’s a bit of a walk to the hide. It doesn’t overlook the main lake, so we need to take the path from the end of the car park and then turn off to the right, down a bit of a hill. It’s not too good underfoot,’ he said, staring pointedly at Becky’s middle.

Tom almost smiled as he heard a tut of irritation.

Becky took Lynsey’s arm. ‘We’ll hold each other up. Okay?’

‘Is this the closest car park to the hide?’ Tom asked.

‘Yes, it’s the one used most by visitors. We’ve laid an approach path nearer to the hide, sir, so if you would just follow me…’

Tom stood back to allow the women to go first, turning up his collar against the biting wind. From the car park they walked along a wide track, but within a few metres the constable veered off to the right where the path was sealed off with crime-scene tape. Becky gave their names to the officer at the head of the approach path, and they stopped to don protective suits.

‘It doesn’t look like there’s much space in there,’ Becky said. ‘Maybe you should go first, boss, and we’ll follow if there’s room.’

Tom nodded and started to make his way along the narrow path, bordered on both sides by a wooden fence, his feet crunching on the icy snow underfoot. It appeared the hide had no door, and as he got closer the bulky figure of Jumoke Osoba filled the entrance, a wide white smile splitting his black face. This was one figure that Tom was always relieved to see at a crime scene.