“I’m suggesting we pool our resources—you help me and I help you. We use The Red Door to get out information about Standedge. You find something and I can upload it for the world to see. If you find anything that might suggest McConnell didn’t do it, we might be able to get through to the folk round here. And maybe even get McConnell home by the end of the week. And then we can see if he really does have more information about your wife.”

Robin opened his mouth to say that he definitely did, but then realized Sally had voiced something he hadn’t dared admit to himself. What if Matthew was lying? What if there was nothing else? What if Matthew needed him far more than he needed Matthew?

“Come on. We’re going to be late.” Sally got up, picked up a heavy-looking backpack from under the desk and slung it over her shoulder. “News doesn’t happen when you’re sitting on your arse.”

“What are we going to be late for?”

“That article,” Sally said, pointing to what Robin had just read, “is out-of-date. James Sunderland wants to talk, says he has something. We’re going to the Ghosts of Marsden.”

Robin looked at the article and then back to her. “Did you just leave this here because you knew I would read it?”

Sally smiled. “I couldn’t be bothered explaining. Come on. Diggle’s about an hour’s walk from here.”

Robin got up and, slightly miffed, followed Sally.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Diggle was a small hamlet, managing to be even smaller than Marsden. Sally followed the canal and Robin followed her. She knew where she was going. They passed the opening to Standedge and walked down a country path until they rejoined the canal.

The other side of Standedge was much the same as the Marsden side, albeit even quieter. The opening was chained up and gated, and there was no Visitor Centre or boats moored outside. It looked even eerier than Marsden’s, as there were no signs of life.

Sally didn’t stop or even look at Standedge. She just led him into Diggle, up a sparse street and into a boxy building, which looked like a cross between a doctor’s surgery and a school, both options abandoned. A slightly crooked sign labeled it as the Community Centre. Sally didn’t pause, just pushed open the door and went inside. She didn’t hold it open for Robin, and in the incredibly short time he had known her, he wouldn’t have expected her to.

Robin looked around, knowing he was going to follow but feeling strangely apprehensive about it. He reached out for the door and then stopped.