‘I wanted to ask you about Maggie Crew,’ he said.

Fry frowned. ‘What about her?’

‘How badly damaged is she? Psychologically, I mean.’

‘It’s not for me to say. The psychiatric reports say she’s recoverable.’

‘But what are the long-term effects of the trauma? Would she be able to make an identification if we produced a suspect?’

‘That’s what we’re all hoping, isn’t it?’

‘You’re getting to know her pretty well, aren’t you?’

Fry pulled on her jacket. ‘Not as well as I thought.’

‘Why?’ Cooper was surprised. ‘What’s the problem? Are there things she isn’t telling you?’

‘Aren’t there always?’

‘Something in particular?’ he insisted.

Fry sighed. ‘Well, I spoke to her sister in Ireland. The sister mentioned that Maggie had a child, when she was a law student. She had it adopted. But Maggie never told me that.’

‘I see.’

‘All that time I spent telling her about Jenny Weston. I tried to make Jenny real to her. And all the rest of it . . . well, I gave it my best shot. But Maggie was never giving me anything in return. Not really.’

Fry adjusted the scabbard for her ASP, sliding it further round the back of her belt, patting her jacket to make sure it wasn’t too obtrusive. She never seemed to go anywhere without her baton any more.

Cooper watched her tighten her belt a notch over her hips to make it more secure. Fry had changed over the last couple of weeks. She had always been a woman with secrets, he knew that. But before, she had been all hard shell on the surface, rejecting any contact. Now, though, there was a faint whisper of a softening in her manner, as though a small breach had been opened up. Cooper didn’t know how or why it had happened, but he prayed he was right, that he could get through to the sharp brain behind her barricades of hostility.

‘Are you not coming to the cattle market this morning?’ asked Fry.

‘No. I’ve got an interview to do. Some youth called Gary Dawson, who’s suddenly remembered that he was on Ringham Moor the day Jenny Weston was killed. There’s just an off-chance he might have seen something. Then I’ve got a couple of other things to do.’

Fry was already heading for the doorway when she stopped and turned. ‘OK, Ben – what are you up to?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Do you realize I can see straight through you?’

Cooper shuffled uncomfortably.

‘Who are you trying to protect now, Ben? What lost cause have you taken to your bleeding heart?’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

She watched him suspiciously. ‘Let me give you a word of advice. Be careful who you associate with, Ben. It could affect your future in a major way.’

‘What are you talking about?’

Fry came closer. ‘Your friend, Detective Constable Weenink, that’s what.’

‘Todd?’