‘Kind of, it’s in an orange box, if that’s what you mean. It’s a combined unit and is to be flown to their HQ at Farnborough airport, not far from where Lance Tatterall works. Zoe’s got him working with them, so I’m confident we’ll get a complete report as soon as it’s ready.’

‘Did you ask her if you’d have to be an expert to know how to cut a hydraulic line?’ Rob asked.

‘Of course. She said that, with instruction, anyone could do it, which is why we need to know who had access to the helicopter in the hours before it flew, so I’m giving that job to you. Examine the contracts it had in the week before the crash.’

‘I already know the answer to that. It was rented by Kennedy-Craig for the whole weekend. I just need to find out where it was hangared in between flights, because it wasn’t at any locations I would expect. For example, Carlisle airport isn’t far away, they could have used that but they didn’t. There are a few others dotted around, but so far I don’t have it at any of those.’

‘So, where the hell was it?’ Kelly asked.

‘No idea,’ he said.

Chapter 30

‘Are you getting an airlift back to Keswick?’ Kelly asked Johnny.

Lance Tatterall had disappeared off with Zoe. They had work to do. They were technical and professional soulmates, and now they had a mission. Kelly couldn’t help feeling that Lance had come alive when it became clear that Zoe wanted him to work on the AAIB investigation with her, as a key witness, but also a fellow expert. It was a match made in heaven, as far as investigations go. She got the impression that Lance had been up here, on his own, climbing to get away from something, and now he had a purpose. She parked the thought and looked up at the mountain. They were standing in the makeshift incident camp at the foot of the Scafell Pike path and hoping to hitch a ride home. Her work here on the mountainside was done; she could add nothing else and Johnny was still nursing a hangover. She’d rarely seen him in such a bad way. He’d clearly off-loaded in some way last night and he’d needed it.

‘Come to mine for some dinner and spend some time with Lizzie?’ she offered.

He looked at her and nodded.

‘Does Josie go today?’ he asked about his eldest daughter. She was about to go off to complete her gold Duke of Edinburgh award, wild camping in Borrowdale for three nights, without a phone.