‘Can you tell me how many times Mr Jenkins was stabbed?’ Carver asked.

James shook his head. ‘We’ll release that information after the pathologist has carried out a detailed examination of the body. But for now I’d like you to leave it at that. I’ve said more than I would normally say because I suspect that during this case we can be helpful to one another. You live in the village so I’m sure you’ll be picking up information that will be useful to us. If you’re happy to share it before writing it up, then you’ll be given preferential treatment when it comes to releasing updates to the media.’

‘That sounds fair to me,’ Carver said, without hesitation. ‘Can I suggest we exchange cards and shake on it?’

After that was done, they set off in different directions.

‘I’m not sure that was sensible, guv,’ Stevens said as he and James headed towards The White Hart. ‘He’s one of the least popular journos on the patch, and he’s written more negative stories about the force than anyone else.’

‘Don’t worry,’ James said. ‘I’ve had a ton of experience dealing with the press in London. I know what I’m doing.’

‘With respect, guv, this isn’t London. Up here we tend not to trust hacks.’

James chose not to give Stevens the satisfaction of responding to the remark. That would be a sure way of creating further tension between them and they could do without that this early in the investigation.

But if the DS continued with his petulant gibes, he would put him in his place and send him back to Kendal with a flea in his ear.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Annie’s heart was beating high up in her chest as she drove towards where Bill was waiting. At the same time the blood pulsed and hammered inside her head.

She still wasn’t sure what to make of his alarming SOS call. He’d refused to provide her with details over the phone other than to say that he was stranded about two miles outside the village.

‘Just get here as quickly as you can,’ he’d said.

It had taken her three goes to get her own car started because she hadn’t used it in over a week. She’d thought about calling James, but decided it wouldn’t be fair as he already had enough on his plate with Charlie’s murder.

The roads were slippery and there were lots of icy patches which forced her to take it slowly.

The location Bill had given her was just off the A683, between Kirkby Abbey and Sedbergh. She had no idea what he was doing there or what kind of mess he had got himself into. And, because of that, she wasn’t able to rein in her imagination.

Why had he been acting so strangely? she kept asking herself. And was it merely a coincidence that soon after he arrived the parcel with the partridge inside was left on their doorstep? Plus, he claimed he’d delivered Christmas cards to ‘old acquaintances’ in the village. Did that include Father Silver?