Banks looked at the gray lump. He knew that chewing gum was a great place to find saliva samples, even after some time out in the open. Of course, there was no saying whether it had come from the same person, or people, who had smoked the joints, let alone whether it had anything to do with Samir’s death. But it was progress. And Adrian Moss would view it as something new to keep from the media, so they would at least get the feeling that things were happening in the case, albeit behind their backs. They would already be curious about all the activity in the little park that morning.

Nowak drifted back to his team as they prepared to approach yet more sections of the search grid. Banks turned to Annie and Gerry and looked at his watch. “Time for a meeting,” he said. “How about an early lunch? The Oak’s not more than a hundred yards over there, and I hear they do a lovely giant Yorkshire pudding stuffed with roast beef. Sorry, Annie.”

BANKS WATCHED Annie picking miserably at her vegan burger, made from tofu, beetroot and God only knew what else. At least the juices that dripped from it resembled real blood.

“Beats me why you lot have to go to great lengths to make pale imitations of meat products, blood and all, when you’re trying to avoid the stuff,” said Banks.

“I’m not a vegan,” Annie said. “They’re not my lot. So don’t pick on me!”

Gerry laughed, cut off a lump of Yorkshire pudding and dipped it in her gravy. “Look at Gerry,” Banks said. “There’s someone who actually seems to enjoy her food.”

Annie pushed her burger aside. “Put me right off my lunch now, you bastards.”

“I’m sure not eating anything at all is probably even better for you.”

Annie grunted.

Banks knocked back some Dalesview bitter and returned to his meal. They were sitting in the beer garden of The Oak, surrounded by the woods at the corner of Elmet Hill and Cardigan Drive. In one direction, through the branches and pale green leaves, they could see the dark slate roofs of the old Hollyfield Estate, and in the other, the elegant, tree-lined slope of Elmet Hill.

“I’m beginning to think that maybe we’ve been looking at this case all wrong,” Banks started.

“In what way?” Annie asked.

“We’ve been assuming all along that it had to do with Blaydon and county lines, and Gashi taking over.”

“And it doesn’t?” Gerry said.

“I’m not so sure.”