Stephen Booth - Blind to the Bones

‘Name of Neil Granger, with an address in Tintwistle,’ said DI Hitchens.

‘That’s only a few miles down Longdendale from here, sir.’

‘Good. Let’s hope we can keep it local.’

After a few minutes, DCI Kessen made his way carefully away from the body via the approach path that had been marked out. The protective suit did him no favours – his paunch protruded like a round cushion. Kessen stood a few feet away and waited patiently until he had everyone’s attention.

‘We have an ID, as you know,’ he said. ‘There are cash and credit cards in the victim’s wallet, so it seems we’re looking for a motive other than robbery. And down in a lay-by on the main road, we have a vehicle whose registered owner matches the ID from the victim.’

The DCI spoke in a flat, matter-of-fact tone that made him sound almost as if he were bored. But Cooper decided he quite liked it. It had an air of calmness and confidence that was sometimes lacking at the start of a major enquiry.

‘It’s an open scene, of course, but the perpetrator must have left some traces on his approach or departure, so I intend to fully exploit all forensic opportunities. And if the victim came up here voluntarily, then he came for a reason – and possibly in the company of his attacker. A check on the victim’s associates and his recent movements will produce some early lines of enquiry, I’m sure. Where’s the nearest civilization – anyone know?’

‘A village called Withens, sir,’ said Cooper. ‘Down in the valley to the east.’

‘Know it, do you?’

Kessen’s gaze was steady, almost impersonal. Cooper wondered whether the DCI had forgotten his name.

‘Yes, sir. I’m seconded to the Rural Crime Team for some enquiries down there, and I’m in the middle of conducting interviews. In fact, if this is the same Neil Granger, he’s related to several of the residents of Withens, and the vicar was expecting to see him yesterday.’

‘Ah. Keep on it, then. There’s a local connection here, I’m sure of it. And while you’re in Withens, you can have a word with this Michael Dearden, who the FOAs had to turn back from the scene in his car. In fact, perhaps you can do that first, in case there’s anything of interest. Find out what he was doing up that track in his four-wheel drive when there’s a perfectly good road. We looked at the maps, and he must have driven up past a disused quarry called Far Clough.’

‘I’ll find it.’

DI Hitchens rubbed his hands. ‘Yes, it could be fairly straightforward, sir,’ he said. ‘That was my own feeling from the start.’

Kessen looked at him, and said nothing. Behind the DCI, Neil Granger’s body was being turned over for the video cameras. And everyone could see that the victim’s face was covered in black make-up, streaked by the blood from his wounds.

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