‘Suggesting that whoever killed her knew what was likely to be on the film. So it has to have been one of the dog-fighters.’

‘Teasdale has told us that she took photographs of him and Warren Leach burying a pitbull terrier that had to be put down because of its injuries. They had taken it well away from the farm – close to the stone circle, in fact, in the trees there. But Jenny saw them. Teasdale says they stood no chance of catching her, because she was on a bike. But she knew they’d seen her.’

‘And Leach was in a good position to spot Jenny when she came back to the moor again.’

‘That’s pretty much what we think. And we found a whole range of knives and other implements in his workshop. Not the knife, though.’

Jepson considered the evidence. ‘So Warren Leach’s associates plan on him taking the blame for Jenny Weston’s murder. How convenient for them.’

‘And clever. They’ve all got their story straight.’

‘Well, let’s face it,’ said Hitchens. ‘It’s convenient all round.’

They all looked at Ben Cooper. But Cooper sat very still, his lips pressed together, saying nothing. Now was the time for saying nothing, if ever it had been the time. They were expecting a comment from him that would never come.

Soon, there would be another police funeral for him to attend, when Todd Weenink was buried with all the honours befitting an officer who had died in the course of duty. But for now there was nothing to be said. Nothing that Cooper could possibly hope to put into words.

Next day, there was a new notice pinned to the board in the corridor. Officers were gathered round to read it.

‘Mr Tailby’s being posted to Ripley,’ one said. ‘And the new DCI’s been named.’

‘Oh? Is it DI Hitchens?’ Ben Cooper elbowed his way closer to the noticeboard. He was aware of an odd mood among the officers around him. A dark, cynical mood.

‘No, mate,’ said someone. ‘We’re getting a new Detective Superintendent from South Yorkshire, and a DCI is transferring from B Division. More foreigners on our patch.’

Cooper read through the praise of Tailby and some indecipherable details of his new headquarters role, then skimmed through the new appointments before reaching the final pay-off line: ‘Detective Inspector K. Armstrong has been appointed Detective Chief Inspector, B Division, to succeed DCI Maddison.’

‘Armstrong’s done well for herself,’ said someone.

‘Right.’

‘Her paedophile operation got a good press. Lots of arrests.’

‘Well, what can you say?’

They looked over their shoulders, watchful for unfriendly ears, afraid of uttering a politically incorrect word.

‘It’s good news for some,’ said Cooper.

‘Yes, if you’re one of the sisters.’