Chris Simms - Savage Moon

Slowly, Edith turned her head from side to side. 'I don't think so. Surely the investigation will soon discover that?'

'You don't understand the way this is going to work, Edie. They'll delve into every aspect of Rose's life, rake through it all. The officer who turned up today is already talking about re- interviewing all Rose's family, friends and acquaintances. Not just the friendly chats I've carried out. They'll be knocking on your door, no doubt about it.'

'Wanting to know what?'

'Any secrets she might have had. Searching for motive. Reasons why someone might have killed her.'

'Someone? What happened to the beast that's been taking

Sutton's sheep?'

'He's refusing to accept that. Says it has to be treated as murder.'

'He? Who is this damned he?'

'He's a Detective Inspector called Jon Spicer.'

'What's he like?'

Adam inserted the tip of a knuckle between his teeth and began to gently nip at it as he contemplated an answer.

'Stop it,' Edith snapped, slapping his hand down. 'How many times have I told you not to do that?'

He looked at her with the hurt eyes of a chastised schoolboy.

'He's no fool Edie. God knows what courses he's been on, but this is the sort of case he's been trained for. He already knows I haven't been totally straight with him.'

Edith crossed her arms. 'You stupid fool, Adam Clegg.'

'I think Ken has his suspicions too,' Adam added miserably.

'Why?'

'You know what Ken's like, man of few words. But when Spicer told him about the man who was killed last night, he suddenly seemed interested. Wanted to know the victim's age and description. Spicer picked up on it too, even asked me later if Rose could have been seeing another man.'

Edith rolled her eyes. 'Why I ever let you two involve me in your stupidity,' she hissed. 'You'll have to tell this Spicer person the truth then, won't you?'

Adam let out a bitter laugh. 'And have Ken Sutton find out I was having an affair with his wife?'

'Why would he find out?'

'Gossip, it always leaks out sooner or later.'

'So what do you propose? Keep playing it your way and risk ruining your entire career? And what about me? You're asking me to lie to a police officer too. I could go to prison for that couldn't I? Impeding a murder investigation. I let you two meet in my house for God's sake. What if someone saw something?'

'Edie, she always walked there remember? I'd leave by the front, she'd leave by the back and go across the fields to the village where her car was parked. No one ever saw a thing.' He knew his sister couldn't argue — if anyone saw anything, word would have got out by now.

'You still haven't told me what you think we should do.'

'Just tell them who Rose was friendly with. Make out the marriage was fine. Don't give them any cause to suspect anything.'

'I don't know, Adam. This is all sliding out of control.'

'Edith! You can't tell them the truth about me and Rose. If

Sutton finds out… God knows what he's capable of.'

She looked back at him, her expression giving nothing away.

'Edie, come on. Apart from a heart of ice, the guy's got several guns. I remembered something today as a result of a question Spicer asked. You know that time a few years back when Ken killed the dog worrying his sheep? His first barrel only peppered the animal's back legs. Sutton then admitted he walked up to it and emptied the other barrel point blank into its head. He then tied it to the bumper of his Land Rover and dragged it across the field to the owners. The couple were totally distraught, insisted he was grinning as he did it.'

She stayed silent for a while before reluctantly nodding. 'So I cover up for you. What then?'

'When they can't find anything on her, they'll focus the investigation on where it should be.'

'You mean catching the beast?'

He glanced at the now black windows, towards the darkness beyond. 'Exactly. Catching that bloody thing out there.'

Jon slowed down as he passed the main entrance to Longsight police station. Holy shit, there was a TV crew there. As he tried to spot anything that would indicate whether it was from a local or national station, he saw an arm pointing in his direction. That blonde from the car park at Crime Lake. The photographer with her started turning, a camera going up to his face.

Jon accelerated round the corner, relieved to pull into the staff entrance at the side of the building. Not pausing at his office, he made his way straight up to Summerby's room. Gavin Edwards, the Press Liaison Officer, was inside. He was five foot-six at most and Jon couldn't decide what caused the guy most angst — his lack of height or his rapidly disappearing hair. He'd come from a London newsroom where they evidently thought each day was an episode of 24. If things weren't tense enough, Edwards would manufacture it so they were. Nervously, he peered down at the throng of people on the pavement below.

'Ah, Jon, here at last,' Summerby said with a theatrical flick of his eyes towards Edwards.

As if on cue, the other man whirled round. 'This is the big one, Jon. Once it goes out on the wire we can expect interest from across the world.'

That's DI Spicer to twats like you, Jon thought. 'Yeah, sorry for the delay. I was visiting a farm, didn't realise there was no signal there.'

'On the moor where Mrs Sutton was found?' Edwards asked, eyes shining.

Jon could see the connections coming together in the man's head. 'That's right. And yes, the injuries from both victims match and no, I don't believe we have a savage beast out there slaughtering people.'

'But surely… ' Edwards began.

Jon cut him off. 'Boss, what were the results from the PM?' Summerby drummed his fingers on the armrest of his chair, making a sound like a horse galloping. 'He's typing up as we speak, but he said all his findings concur with his analysis at the scene. Time of death sometime between midnight and four in the morning. Oh, and from the angle of the lacerations on both sides of his face and neck, he believes the attacker was carrying a multi-pronged weapon in each hand.'

An image of a beast standing up on its hind legs and lashing out with both its front paws flashed in Jon's head. 'Did we track down a next of kin?'

'Yes, the body was cleaned up and an ID was made by his brother half an hour ago. Confirmed as one Derek Peterson.' Jon sat down. 'This wild animal theory is going to be a major problem. There's a supposed expert in big cat behaviour helping out at Mossley Brow nick. He's taking it for granted a panther killed Rose Sutton and Derek Peterson. If the press link the two incidents together, interest levels are going to go through the roof. I'd prefer to play down the Peterson killing.' He heard Edwards snort. 'We've got a couple of sensitive leads on Derek Peterson. They link into the gay scene and if the press go steaming in we could lose them.'

'So what do you propose?' Summerby asked.

'Is Peterson's brother still here?'

'Yes, there's a counsellor with him.'

'If we can make sure he's kept away from the press, I can issue a statement that just covers the basics without giving away Peterson's identity.'

'They won't be satisfied with that. You'll have to toss them something,' Edwards butted in.

Jon didn't bother looking at him. 'Maybe if I hint at an imminent development and ask them for a bit of restraint.'

'What sort of imminent development?' Edwards again.

You flying out of this fucking window, Jon thought, finally turning his eyes to the press officer. 'I'll let you know when I think of it,' he replied, praying something would come of Rick's appeal on Swinger's Haven.

Edwards looked incredulous. 'Stories this juicy don't crop up every day. Their editors down in the big smoke will be screaming for something.'