Already Dead(64)

It was true that she didn’t watch TV very often. The news, a few films. There seemed to be very little else of interest for her to watch. Not really to watch. The TV set was often switched on in the flat, but only for the sound of voices in the background, which made the place feel less empty. So she had been vaguely aware of programmes that everyone talked about in the office. There had been Big Brother, then I’m a Celebrity. The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing. When their names were mentioned she could nod and feel some satisfaction that she at least knew whether it was reality TV or a talent show. But why she should have noticed what BBC reporters were wearing on the news she couldn’t imagine.

‘All right then, Luke. Get yourself a list of local suppliers and see if you can identify that style of coat. With a bit of luck it might be an unusual type.’

Irvine blinked. ‘Have you any idea how many outdoor clothing shops there are in this area? Every village has at least one. I can think of six in Edendale alone.’

‘That will keep you busy, then. You’d better get started.’

Like every other senior police officer, Detective Superintendent Hazel Branagh had a thankless job. She was tasked with managing crime in the sprawling territory of Derbyshire E Division, and she was having to do it with diminishing resources.

She’d sent a message summoning Diane Fry to her office, and first she asked for an update on the murder inquiry, though she had copies of the reports on her desk.

‘These two people you’ve interviewed,’ she said, after she’d listened to an outline.

‘Charles Dean and Sheena Sullivan.’

‘Are they potential suspects?’

‘We can put them in the area, but we can’t place them at the crime scene. Besides, what would be their motive? There’s no connection with the victim that we can see.’

‘Just witnesses, then.’

‘And unreliable ones,’ said Fry.

‘Really?’

‘They would never have come forward of their own volition. They’ve both got their own concerns, a need to keep their activities secret for obvious reasons. And I’m still not convinced they’re telling us everything they did or saw.’

‘There must be more that forensics can come up with?’

Fry shrugged. ‘So far they’ve offered us a heap of garbage. Literally.’

‘I’ve seen the list of items,’ said Branagh. ‘Evidential value?’

‘Well, as evidence, it’s all practically worthless. But some of it does give us another lead.’

‘Does it?’

‘Those woods are used by off-roaders, and there have been some conflicts in the past. Local officers say they feared a violent confrontation would result eventually. Nothing like this perhaps, but—’

‘It’s a bit of a stretch.’

‘Everything is a bit of a stretch at the moment, ma’am. We can’t even find anything in our victim’s background that looks relevant.’

‘So what do we have on him? Did he have any links with the location? This Sparrow Wood place. Was he in the habit of visiting the area?’

‘Apparently not.’

Branagh stood up and turned away thoughtfully. Her broad shoulders blocked out most of the light from the window. Fry had heard some of the male officers say that she would make a good prop forward for the divisional rugby team. It was unkind. But, at this moment, she could see what they meant. With her bulky outline, she looked as though she could bear any weight that was thrust on her.

‘Are you aware that Detective Inspector Hitchens is moving on from E Division?’ asked Branagh finally.

‘I … had heard some talk,’ admitted Fry.

‘He hasn’t mentioned it to you himself?’

‘No. Well, I don’t suppose he would have thought it necessary. Not since I transferred to the Special Operations Unit. I haven’t been a part of Divisional CID for some months now.’

‘Of course. But you must have thought about it, Diane.’

‘About what, ma’am?’

‘The vacancy.’ Branagh glanced at Fry over her shoulder and raised a sceptical eyebrow. ‘Oh, surely? When I ranked as a DS, I had my eye out for any inspector’s job that was coming vacant, no matter what the speciality. And some jobs that weren’t vacant, probably.’

‘I hadn’t considered it. I mean, the SCU—’

‘I know, I know. But there won’t be any promotions available there, you know. Every chief officer in the region has the odd DI to spare. Here in E Division, if we don’t find a suitable candidate locally, we’ll have no trouble recruiting from outside. In fact, they’ll be lining up at the door. And I don’t want that. Personally, I always think the devil you know is preferable to the devil you don’t.’