‘Then what does that tell you, Tony?’ James asked.

‘That’s a no-brainer, Inspector. It means you have to consider the possibility that the baby’s body was placed here after the farm had been searched and the investigation had been wound down.’

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

THREE YEARS AGO

Charlotte has been looking forward to today. For the first time in ages her parents have left her alone in charge of the farm.

It’s only for the afternoon and all the chores have been carried out so there’s nothing for her to do – except spend some quality time with her new boyfriend William.

He’s due to arrive any minute now that her parents have set off for Penrith. They’re attending the funeral of someone her mum used to work with during her time as a nurse.

It means Charlotte can chill out for a bit after another rough week. She’s between jobs so they’ve kept her busy on the farm and it’s not something she enjoys.

In fact, she hates working outside in the cold with all the mud and the bucket loads of shit from the cows and sheep. It’s all so disgusting and smelly. She was never cut out to be a farmer.

She knows that her parents are disappointed in her, especially her mum. That’s why there are so many arguments. They reckon she’s lazy, ungrateful and disrespectful. But the truth is she feels trapped in a life that makes her miserable.

Now that she’s no longer a teenager she finds it easier to stand up for herself. She doesn’t take as much crap as she used to and she’s more careful when it comes to staying out of trouble.

It’s been two years since she was given a police caution for stealing four packs of cigarettes from a store in Kendal. And a year since her dad found the joints in her bedroom and went apeshit.

She can’t help that she has a rebellious streak and finds living in the wilds of Cumbria so fucking boring. She’s determined to move away as soon as she can afford to. Manchester or London. Somewhere she can be herself.

Far too often she’s consumed by a tidal wave of self-pity. It’s why she got into drugs and drinks more than is probably good for her.

And why she’s forever in the doghouse and being told she doesn’t act her age.

It doesn’t help that she has always felt uncomfortable in the only home she’s ever known. Oaktree Farm is such a cold and creepy place. Even before she was told about the bodies in the cellar, she felt that there was something not right about it.