Martin Edwards: The Frozen Shroud

‘Sure, but it takes two to tango. When it came to men, she kept making bad choices.’

Not that I can talk, given my recent track record. Time to make a good choice, for a change.

The gulls had flown away, heading for Bonscale Pike. The leaves left on the trees were countless shades of green and gold. The only sounds were the steady chop of the ship through the water, and the impatient hustle of the wind.

Daniel took his hands out of his pockets. ‘So how much do you think Robin knew?’

‘Fern reckons he persuaded himself first that Stefan had killed Terri, and then that Oz was to blame. Anything rather than face up to the possibility that Mummy had committed murder, just to make sure she could keep him.’

He nodded. ‘Like Quin and Jeffrey, each silently frightened that the other was a killer.’

‘He had a double motive for wanting to meet me. Not simply to pick up clues to the progress of the investigation, but to distract my attention from Miriam as a possible suspect.’

Ravenbank was slipping out of sight behind them now, and as they rounded Hallin Fell, the little jetty at Howtown came into view, along with the gentle slopes of Steel Knotts, rising up behind the village. The plan was to have a leisurely lunch in the hotel, and stroll up to the cairn at the fell summit before catching the steamer on its way back.

‘Don’t rush back to work before you’re ready.’ He put one of his hands on hers. She liked the way he gently squeezed. ‘You deserve a break.’

‘Yeah, Undercrag needs an autumn clean, to make it fit for viewing by prospective buyers.’ She gazed out across the lake, willing him to make a move. No way was she going to chase him, it would never work. ‘Plus, I ought to start looking for somewhere else to live.’

‘Plenty of time for that. Why not get away for a few days? Change of scene. This isn’t the only gorgeous place in Britain.’

‘Not sure I can be bothered. Too much hassle.’

‘An old college friend of mine has a place in mid-Wales, high above the Mawddach estuary. A two-bedroom cottage. Very remote, very quiet. Not a crime scene in sight. He’s offered it to me for a few days. I was wondering … would you fancy coming along too?’

She blinked. ‘You are joking. Aren’t you?’

‘Trust me, I’m serious.’ He grinned. ‘Too serious, if Louise is to be believed. By the way, she’s staying up here. Tied up lecturing to wannabe hotshot lawyers next week. There’s only one snag.’

‘This cottage is so remote we might get cut off from civilisation?’

‘No, no.’ His grin widened. ‘That wouldn’t be such a disaster. I’m sure we’d find ways of passing the time.’

Hannah laughed. Inside a few breath-snatching seconds, she’d travelled back half a lifetime, and become a carefree, excited teenager again. Two bedrooms? Oh well, she’d see how she felt.

‘All right. Break it to me gently.’

‘The owner swears blind the cottage has its very own ghost.’