“I’ve never met her,” said Burgess, “but from what I understand, she’s got her head screwed on right. I’ve talked to plenty of others who’ve been in her position. Memories are unreliable, you’re right about that, very vague sometimes. Like chasing shadows of shadows. You just have to keep at it. Gently, mind. They’re sensitive souls, these victims of historical abuse. Especially poets. Some of the girls buried it right away. Really deep. They were just kids, after all. Some went through years of analysis and therapy without really knowing why—why they couldn’t hold down a job, why they couldn’t handle a relationship, why they couldn’t bring up their kids properly. Some of them just turned to drugs and booze to help them forget. Some even committed suicide. But Linda Palmer isn’t like that, from what I understand. She’s different. She’s got her shit together.”

Banks finished his drink and stood up. “OK,” he said. “Thanks for the pep talk.”

Burgess gave a mock salute. “My pleasure.”

As Banks walked away, he turned and saw Burgess disappear inside the pub with his empty glass and a spring in his step.

2

THE CSI VAN ARRIVED ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER ROGER Stanford had cycled off into the distance. Annie and Gerry remained by their car, under the shade of the trees, as the various specialists got to work. The uniformed officers donned latex gloves and overshoes to join in the roadside search. It was going on half past eleven, and by all the signs, Annie thought, the day was going to be a scorcher. The morning mist had already burned off. She wished she were at home in the garden on a sun lounger working on her tan with a thick Ken Follett novel lying open on her stomach and a long cool drink within reach.

“What do you think?” Gerry asked.

“Hard to say yet,” answered Annie. “Give the boffins an hour or so and they might come up with some ideas. We don’t even know who she is or how she got here. Nobody local’s been reported missing.”

“Early days yet,” said Gerry. “She can hardly have walked here.”

“True enough. Let’s go talk to Doc Burns. He’s been with the body long enough. He should have something to say by now.”