David was right, of course. With Californian human bone specialist Jo Granski at her side, she’d not only be working with one of the best in the business but a friend she’d grown to know and trust over the last couple of years. Jo and Margaret between them had seen her through some tough times since they’d first met at Hungerbourne. But somehow despite all that, now that she was actually here, she really wasn’t sure she was comfortable with taking the Bailsgrove job on.

‘It’s not that.’

David looked exasperated. ‘Well, what then?’

She hesitated. ‘This is going to sound daft. But it feels like I’m standing in a dead woman’s shoes.’

‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this. You were the one that insisted we take this job. If you were going to get the collywobbles about it, you should have done it before we signed the contract with the developer.’

She didn’t need any reminding of the fact. It had seemed the right thing to do at the time. The only thing. And logically she knew that neither she nor the Hart Unit had any choice. But right now, standing here in Beth’s site office just a few yards from where her body was found, she wasn’t so sure. David, on the other hand, no longer seemed to have any doubts about their decision. But then he wasn’t the one who’d actually have to be on-site every day.

Clare raised her hand in a gesture of dismissal. ‘Just ignore me, David. Like you say, it’s probably just nerves. I’ll be fine.’

He plucked a black plastic seed tray from the wooden shelving at the rear of the Portakabin and started rummaging distractedly through an assortment of pottery fragments, before returning them to the place where he’d found them. ‘At least we could get in. I was half afraid the police were going to have it all taped off as some sort of crime scene.’

‘Mark was very helpful.’

‘Mark?’

‘DCI Stone.’

David smiled knowingly.

She flashed a warning look at him. ‘Don’t start.’ David didn’t have the least interest in her love life. It was a distraction tactic and she knew it. Well, two could play at that game.

‘Any luck contacting Beth’s excavation team? We’ll need to go through all of her records with someone who’s worked on the site. We need to be sure everything is here.’

He shook his head. ‘I thought I’d leave that to you – you’re going to be the one that has to work with them. Maybe you could have a word with Mark to see if he’s got any of their contact details.’

‘OK. We need to get a move on. I’ve already had the developer on the phone asking when we’re going to be through.’

‘Paul Marshall.’

Clare nodded.

‘What’s he like?’