She realized that everyone in the room was looking at her again. Had she been asked a question? She would be a hopeless witness on the stand if her attention wandered from the question so easily.

‘So what do you say, Diane?’ asked Blake.

‘I need time.’

‘Of course. All the time you want.’

Fry looked at Superintendent Branagh, and thought she might have detected a tiny hint of sympathy in her eyes. She thought of all the times she’d observed the behaviour of victims and felt a twinge of contempt at their weakness, wanted to tell them that it wasn’t so bad as all that, for God’s sake, have a bit of backbone and do what you have to do.

And Fry had so often seen people going into court to confront their past. She knew the worst part was waiting in the witness room, and the long walk down the corridor to take the stand. She’d watched people taking that walk. It might only be a few yards, but when you were going to face your own demons, it could seem like a million lonely miles.

For herself, Fry knew that the long walk down that corridor would be the most difficult thing she’d ever done in her life.

Chapter Forty-one

AS COOPER DROVE through Birchlow towards Rough Side Farm, he noticed that there was now just one car parked behind the village hall. He almost missed it through his rain-streaked window, but for a brief flash of bright metallic blue, which made him stop and reverse a few yards to take a better look. A blue Mercedes. Had the same car been there on Wednesday? He had no idea.

Cooper drew into a lay-by just past the church and called the office.

‘Gavin, what sort of car does Michael Clay drive? Isn’t it a Mercedes?’

‘Yes. Do you want the reg?’

‘Please.’

Murfin read the registration number to him, spelling it out in the standard phonetic alphabet.

‘Romeo, Echo, Zero, Eight . . .’

Even before he’d finished, Cooper knew he had the right car. And he knew he had the answer to another mystery as well.

‘Is Diane around, Gavin?’

‘She’s just come down from upstairs. But you don’t want to talk to her, Ben.’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Take my advice, mate. I’ve just seen her face, and you do not want to talk to her.’

‘Gavin, put her on, please.’

Murfin sighed. ‘Stand by for the nuclear fallout, then. I gave you the four-minute warning. I just hope you’ve got your tin hat on.’

A moment later, Fry came on the phone. ‘Yes, what’s happening?’

Well, all or nothing, supposed Cooper.

‘Diane, can you come out and meet me at Birchlow, to visit Rough Side Farm?’

‘Is that the Massey place?’

‘Yes. I think it could be important. I’m sorry if it’s a bad time, but there’s something –’

‘Anything,’ said Fry. ‘Anything. I’ll be straight there.’