‘Dan and Emma, I want to know by the close of play today everything about the pad on Ullswater where Kennedy-Craig was staying. Was it rented? Or did he own it? And where the ’copter took off. Look at the pilots. What were they doing the night before? Toxicology will come back in due course. Who was allowed near that helicopter? I’ll liaise with the AAIB people and try and get an answer out of them ASAP. Any questions?’

It was pretty clear what each of them had to chase and, at this stage, they stared at their sparse notes on their pads. Filling in the gaps would be the hardest challenge.

‘Right, good. I’m getting a sodding lift by helicopter over to Wasdale,’ she said.

‘Woah! Boss, what?’ Rob chipped in helpfully.

‘I know.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘It’s the quickest way. I’m putting my faith in the Mountain Rescue Team. They’re still removing bodies from up there, and the navy has sent another Sea King.’

‘The pictures on the news are horrific. I know loads of runners in that race,’ Emma said. She was a keen fell runner herself and Kelly and Kate had both noticed that Dan had become interested in the sport recently too.

‘Do you know El Cabro?’ Kate asked Emma. Kelly shot her a withering look.

‘Of course. Everyone knows him; he wins every year. But he’s okay, isn’t he? I saw it on the news.’

‘Yes,’ Kelly said. ‘He was a legend on the mountain yesterday.’

Kate smiled, but only Kelly noticed the wickedness behind it.

Chapter 23

Kelly left her car at the Keswick MRT car park and went in to the stone headquarters building to introduce herself. The last thing she wanted to do after yesterday was to climb into yet another helicopter, but to drive to Wasdale Head would take her an hour and a half via the coastal route, and she simply didn’t want to waste that amount of time on the road. It was Johnny who suggested the helicopter. The teams across the national park were still busy on the mountain, collecting evidence and frozen body parts. She’d been informed that the AAIB was now in situ, and they were making full use of local people power to begin their investigation. She’d be there in twenty minutes.