Next, she called Fabian Kennedy-Craig, praying he answered. She wanted to get to him before his mother, and she’d told a little white lie; she had no idea if he was coming to Cumbria today, she just hoped he was. He answered and she introduced herself, getting a rather different response to that of his mother. He was respectful and interested in the investigation, and asked all sorts of intelligent questions, and it quickly became an amicable conversation.

‘Now your father’s estate is settled, you’re free to come here, when do you think you’ll arrive?’

‘How do you know about my father’s estate?’ he asked.

‘It’s procedure; your lawyers are obligated to notify ours of any outcome from the will, when the death is unnatural. Until the investigation is finalised, your father’s death is treated as suspicious. In fact, we’ve uncovered some information that is pointing that way, I’m afraid. I thought I’d tell you myself.’

‘It wasn’t an accident?’

‘Fabian – do you mind if I use your first name?’

‘Not at all, please, tell me.’

‘Fabian, it looks very likely that the mechanical failure was due to sabotage.’ Again, she purposely didn’t mention the hydraulic cable or the spin, or the loss of the tail rotor. They were details that needed to be kept under wraps for now.

‘Jesus. I can’t believe it. So, the rumours in the papers are true. Does my mother know?’

‘I just got off the phone to her and she was angry, of course. If you came up here, you could be closer to the investigation. I did think your mother would want to talk further, but I’m afraid we didn’t get along.’

‘That doesn’t surprise me, she’s a stubborn woman. She’s also not happy about the will.’

‘Ah, that’s tricky. She expected everything to go to her?’

‘Exactly, but I’m twenty-four years old, for Christ’s sake.’

‘Old enough to take it on, for sure, and I’m guessing your father prepared you well, from what I’ve found out about him so far.’

Silence.

‘Did you know about the terms of the will?’ she asked.

‘My dad mentioned it,’ he said. ‘But I didn’t expect…’

‘To have the responsibility so soon?’ Kelly asked.

Kelly could tell he was reticent. It was probably a father-son conversation that was meant to be a secret. No wonder Vivienne was enraged.

‘Listen, you could be here soon if you left right away, assuming you can? The weather up here is pretty bad but you’ve probably got a couple of hours’ window if you get a move on, before the next snow hits. Don’t you want to be here? There are certain administrational considerations regarding flying your father’s body home. I’m sure your mother didn’t want to take that on because she’s so grief-stricken.’

Silence.

‘Fabian?’