‘Well, that sounds interesting, Cooper. Could you explain what these beliefs are? Might they just have some bearing on the enquiry, by any chance?’

‘I don’t think so, sir.’

‘It doesn’t do to be too credulous, Cooper. For a start, are we supposed to believe they live just on the benefits claimed by Calvin Lawrence?’

‘They hardly have an extravagant lifestyle.’

Hitchens interrupted. ‘I can show you fifteen or sixteen reports of stuff being nicked from cars parked on the roadsides around Ringham Moor. Radios, cameras – you name it. Somebody’s cleaning up from the tourists round there.’

‘You think it’s Cal and Stride? But what would they do with that sort of stuff?’

‘Well – sell it, right? That’s the usual idea, as far as I understand it.’

‘Sell it to who?’ said Cooper, starting to get agitated. ‘These aren’t your average local yobbos who can flog it in the pub. If these two had stuff they wanted to sell, they’d have to take it on the bus with them to Bakewell or Edendale. Or hitch with it by the roadside. Can you see that? And neither of them is local anyway, so who is there they would know? We’d have picked them up straight off if they’d been trying that. And Stride never leaves the van anyway, except to go on the moor.’

‘Do we have sufficient grounds to turn over the van?’ asked Fry.

Tailby looked around. ‘Not unless someone can give me any evidence that puts them under suspicion of a crime. Something that would justify a warrant.’

‘Unfortunately, we can’t even move them on, unless the quarry owners get their injunction,’ said Hitchens.

‘We’d need a tow truck to get the van out, anyway.’

‘More than that. The van hasn’t moved for months. We’d have to winch it on to a flatbed.’

‘Mmm.’ Tailby looked round at the officers. ‘Nobody’s offering me anything.’

‘Drugs,’ said Hitchens.

‘Grounds for suspicion?’

‘Strange behaviour – they’re uncoordinated, incoherent. I say we take a dog down and we sniff ’em out.’

‘I’ve been in the van,’ said Cooper.

‘What?’ Hitchens stared at him. ‘What the hell did you think you were doing? Any defence lawyer will have a field day.’

‘I was invited.’

‘Oh, did they throw a party? Sorry I missed it. I mustn’t have got my invitation.’

‘I was with Mr Fox.’

Some officers looked around, unfamiliar with the name. Attention settled on the Ranger, whose face went a shade of pink that clashed horribly with his jacket.

‘Mr Fox?’ said Tailby.

‘I’ve known Cal and Stride since they arrived,’ said Owen. ‘They talk to me.’

‘What’s your view on this drugs issue? Are they users?’

‘No, I’m sure they’re not.’

‘Cooper?’