Jill stood in her kitchen, leaning against the hot radiator, watching Max make coffee as if he woke in her cottage every morning.

It was far too early to be out of bed, and she was still trying to decide what had possessed her to let him stay the night. Never mind him spending the night, why had she shared her bed with him?

It was always the same. All he had to do was click his fingers and she melted. She must be mad.

After visiting Lauren Cole’s father last night, he’d spent a couple of hours at headquarters and it had been late when he’d called back at her cottage. She’d been touched that he’d come to see if she was OK, and she’d felt for him, knowing just how difficult it was to remain professional while telling a man that his daughter had been murdered.

That was part of the problem, of course. Professionally, she admired him. A lot of people in his job became hard and cynical. Not Max. He could keep the two worlds separate. He was good at his job, he could empathize with people, he could deal with the worst kind of horrors and yet still remain a warm, caring man and a wonderful father to his sons. If some cases monopolized his every waking thought, few would guess at it.

Jill liked to think she was the same. People often joked that psychologists were crazy, that to see the fine line between sanity and madness, you had to cross the border. Some claimed that you needed to experience some sort of childhood abuse to obtain the necessary qualifications. That was nonsense in Jill’s view. Her own childhood had been as happy as anyone could wish for.

She could, however, pinpoint the exact moment the frailty of the human mind first grabbed her interest. As a twelve-year-old, she’d spent hours gazing out of her bedroom window at the big house that was less than a quarter of a mile from the council estate on which she’d been born. She’d imagined the wonderful life the inhabitants must lead. The daughter, about Jill’s age, had owned a beautiful pony. Gleaming sports cars had been parked in front of the six-car garage. Marquees had been erected on the lawns on a regular basis. The family had seemed to glide effortlessly from one lavish party to the next.

Then one day, police officers had swarmed around the house like bees. News soon spread that the businessman hadn’t been as wealthy or successful as he’d led people to believe. Faced with an avalanche of debts, he’d shot his wife and daughter, and then turned the gun on himself.

Jill’s shock had been peppered with fury at such a selfish act. She hadn’t minded him killing himself, that was his choice, but she’d been appalled to know that the young girl would never ride out on her beautiful pony again.

Jill would have given a lot to have been able to sit down and talk to him for an hour. Even at twelve years of age, she’d been certain she could have made a difference to his way of thinking.

‘You OK?’ Max asked, and she came to with a jolt.

‘Yes. Fine, thanks.’

And still she wondered why she’d let him spend the night.

Lust had a lot to answer for, she supposed, as did a longing to turn their relationship into something more solid. He infuriated her at times, but she hadn’t yet mastered the art of not loving him.

And if she were being totally honest, she would have to say that it was better to have someone in the cottage to answer crank phone calls. She was fairly certain it was nothing more serious than kids playing a joke on her, but all the same—

‘What?’ he asked, catching her looking at him.

‘Nothing.’

‘I’ve said I’m sorry,’ he reminded her. ‘Oh, and before you hear this from the office grapevine, Dad’s spending Christmas with me and the boys.’

‘Really? Aw, that’s nice.’

He pulled a face at that, and she knew what he was thinking. His father was being difficult right now, and Max couldn’t seem to get along with him.

‘I hope I get an invite,’ she added.

‘A what?’

‘An invite to see your dad. As odd as it may seem, given that he’s related to you, I actually like him.’

‘You want an invite?’ He folded his arms across his chest. ‘God, that’s rich. You’re the one who insists on living in this godforsaken village. You’re the one who’s afraid of any sort of commitment. Your choice, Jill. As far as I’m concerned, you have an open invite. Marry me. Move in with me. Bring the cats. Sell the cottage and get out of this bloody village. How’s that for an invite?’

An angry retort sprang to her lips, but she bit it back. As far as Max was concerned, the reason their relationship was so volatile was all due to her supposed fear of commitment. It had nothing to do with him spending the night with another woman when they’d lived together. But there was no point bringing that up. It was old news, and they’d moved on. At least, they’d tried to.

Her doorbell rang, startling her out of her gloomy thoughts. It wasn’t even seven o’clock, far too early for callers.

She opened her door to see Wilf Appleby standing on her doorstep. Wilf, who owned and farmed most of the land around Lilac Cottage, would have been up for hours. In fact, it was probably late for him.

‘The idiot dropped this at my place yesterday,’ he said. ‘It’s plainly addressed to you, but you know what he’s like. Bloody hopeless!’

Smiling at the description of their new postman, Jill took the letter from him. ‘Thanks, Wilf.’

He could have pushed it through the letterbox, but he wasn’t the type. If there was a conversation going spare, you could count Wilf in.

He peered around her. ‘Is that copper here?’

‘Max? Yes, he is. Did you want him?’

‘Dunno. I heard a copper called at my place yesterday afternoon, but he missed me. Then, on the radio this morning, they said a girl were found dead on Monday.’

‘That’s right. The police are in the village now, asking if people saw or heard anything.’

‘Ah, well, I were out in the yard on Monday for most of the day. The farrier were here. I reckon I saw everyone who were about.’

The wind, a raw easterly, was blowing snow into Jill’s hallway.

‘Come in,’ she urged him.

After a brief hesitation, he removed wellington boots, unwound his scarf, and stepped inside.

‘We’re in the kitchen,’ Jill said, leading the way.

She introduced the two men and they shook hands. Wilf was in a heavy waterproof coat with his feet clad in thick woollen socks, and Max was wearing a dark suit with a grey tie. Getting on for eighty, Wilf was twice Max’s age. They were opposites in every way.

‘I hear a copper has called at my farm,’ Wilf explained, ‘but he’ll have a job to find me at home. I need to be out mending the fences before spring.’ He looked at Max. ‘I thought, seeing as you were here, I could tell you what I saw on Monday.’

‘I’d be grateful,’ Max said.

‘Ah, so I thought.’

Jill guessed it would be a long conversation.

‘Do you want coffee, Wilf?’

‘Can’t bear the stuff. I were on my way back to the farm for my breakfast and a brew.’

‘Tea?’ she offered.

‘Ah, that’d be more like it.’

While she made Wilf his tea, he sat at her table, leaned back and prepared to tell his story.

‘The young woman who was murdered,’ Max began, taking the lead, ‘was Lauren Cole. Do you know her?’

‘Lauren Cole? No, I don’t know the name. Mind, I see a lot of people walking round here and I don’t know most of the names.’

‘She was twenty years old,’ Max said, ‘with long, blonde hair. Five feet five inches tall. On Monday, she was wearing dark blue jeans and a red jacket. She had a dog with her, a small white shaggy crossbreed called—’

‘Charlie?’ Wilf guessed.

‘That’s right. You do know her then?’

‘I’ve seen her about,’ Wilf said, ‘but no, I can’t say as I know her. I’d know the dog, though. You see, my farm has a right of way across it and people cut through there. She often did. Sometimes she’d say good morning, but that were all. I do remember hearing her call the dog Charlie, though.’

‘You didn’t see her on Monday morning?’

‘No. Sometimes, though, people drive up and park on the waste ground. If they’re in a rush, they’ll do that. If they do, I won’t see them.’

‘Did you see anyone else on Monday morning?’ Max persisted.

‘As I were telling Jill,’ Wilf explained, ‘I had the farrier out to the horses on Monday so we were out in the yard all day. From there, you can see everyone who goes out on to the hill.’

‘Did you see anyone on Monday morning?’ Max asked again, and Jill smiled to herself. This conversation would go at Wilf’s pace, not Max’s. And that pace would be slow.

‘I did.’ He nodded solemnly. ‘Lots of people round here walk their dogs up there. First I saw the woman who’s just moved into the terrace. You’d know her, Jill. About fifty, she is. She has a couple of dogs, both crossbreeds. The young one looks like it’s got a lot of labrador in it. It’s always carrying a ball in its mouth. She carries one of them plastic things that helps you throw a ball. It’s a skittish young dog. Needs a bit of training if you ask me. The other dog’s older. Black. Going grey. A bit of collie in that one. He’s either going deaf, or he’s just a little bugger. She’s forever calling him because he’s wandered off.’

Jill recognized the description.

‘Denise Bent,’ she said, putting a mug of steaming tea in front of Wilf. ‘She and her husband, Eddie, moved in a couple of years ago.’

‘Is it as long as that?’ Wilf asked, scratching his head. ‘I suppose it could be.’

‘Did you notice anything unusual about her?’ Max asked.

‘No. She were having to shout to that black dog, as she often does. Her walk took her about the same time as usual. About forty minutes, I reckon. No, there were nothing unusual. In fact,’ he added, ‘it would have been odd if I hadn’t seen her. Every morning she takes them dogs the same way.’

‘Anyone else?’ Max asked.

‘Oh, yes. Next, I saw a chap – don’t know his name – but he walks up this way from Bacup. He has a little brown dog. What do you call them? Ah, yes, it’s a border terrier. Nice little dog. Mind, that one has a tendency to wander as well. So I saw him. I didn’t see him come back because he walks the loop, you see. Once he’s out of sight, I wouldn’t expect to see him till the next morning.’

Jill, too, knew the man with the little dog. Like Wilf, she didn’t know his name, but she’d often exchanged the time of day with him.

Wilf might talk too much, but Max couldn’t fault the man’s powers of observation.

‘Now,’ Wilf went on, ‘the next person I saw were Steve Carlisle. He walks his dog up there most mornings, too. He has a greyhound,’ he added for Max’s benefit, ‘and it’s the laziest creature you could meet. The dog’d far rather be curled up at home in front of the fire than be out walking. Still, walk he has to. Every morning. At this time of year, the dog’ll be wearing a tartan jacket. Looks right bloody daft in it, too.’

He took a long swallow of tea and Jill could see Max mentally digesting names and details of these people.

‘I didn’t see Steve set off,’ Wilf went on, enjoying his captive audience, ‘only when he were coming back. And that were a bit unusual.’

‘Oh?’ Max was struggling to keep his patience.

‘He were running,’ Wilf said thoughtfully. ‘Well, when I say running, he were trying to run. He were trotting a bit, then stopping to call his dog. That dog of his only has two speeds; slow and stopped. So the dog were ambling along behind him and Steve were running a bit, then stopping to shout at the dog, then trotting along a bit further.’

‘And you say that was unusual?’ Max said.

‘Yes. I’ve never seen him run before. In fact, he always walks about in a bit of a dream. He’s a clever bloke so I suppose he thinks a lot. But yes, that were unusual. I’ll tell you summat else that were unusual,’ Wilf went on, warming to his theme. ‘He weren’t carrying nothing. Very often, when he’s on his way home, he’ll be carrying a plastic bag full of rubbish.’

‘Rubbish?’ Jill asked.

‘Yes. He’s always having a rant about the amount of rubbish folk leave lying around. I have to agree with him on that one, too. Folk chuck empty cans and bottles in the hedge instead of carrying them home.’ He looked at Max, a half smile on his lips. ‘Mind, I blame the police for that. They ban drinking in the towns and villages so people go out to the hills and drink. Bloody daft!’

‘So he picks up rubbish?’ Max asked, ignoring Wilf’s last comment.

‘He does. Very often he walks back home with a plastic bag filled with empty cans and bottles.’

‘A public service,’ Jill said, surprised.

‘Yes, and if he’s not carrying rubbish,’ Wilf went on, ‘he’s got a sack full of wood. A year or so ago, he had one of them wood burning stoves put in. Like yours, Jill.’

‘I know. I had a look at his before I had mine put in.’

‘Ah, well, he often brings back wood from the spinney. I wouldn’t accuse him of cutting the young trees down,’ Wilf put in quickly, ‘but he finds quite a bit of wood. It’s free, you see.’

‘You say he carries a sack full of wood?’ Max said. ‘Does he get small pieces? Or does he chop it up and carry it home like that?’

‘I wouldn’t know,’ Wilf admitted. ‘I suppose he chops it up. Presumably he carries a saw in the sack.’

Jill looked at Max and she knew exactly what he was thinking. Or an axe.

Max had conducted the morning briefing, updated his boss on progress, or lack of, and issued a press statement before he finally had time to pay number three Bank Street a visit.

Officers were almost finished at Lauren Cole’s home, but hadn’t found anything of interest. Her computer had been taken away and Max just hoped there was something useful on that.

Her flatmate, Jo, was standing in the doorway to Lauren’s room, watching proceedings in a state of shock.

Everything had been taken out of Lauren’s small wardrobe and was being put back. The mattress had been removed and was standing up against the wall. The small square of worn beige carpet had been pulled back.

‘You don’t think he’ll be after me, do you?’ was Jo’s first question to Max.

‘What makes you think that?’

‘Nothing in particular.’

‘I can’t imagine so,’ Max said, ‘but, until we know a bit more about it, it might pay to be extra cautious.’

Most of the houses in Bank Street had been bought as investments and several, including number three, had been turned into flats. Max hoped the rents were suitably low.

Wallpaper that had probably been stuck on twenty years ago was giving up the fight and peeling away to reveal large damp patches. Carpets were threadbare. Furniture was barely serviceable.

‘Is there any coffee going?’ he asked her.

‘Eh? Er, yeah, if you like.’

They left officers to finish in Lauren’s room and went into the kitchen where Jo took a dirty mug from a pile in the sink, washed it, thoroughly he was relieved to see, and hunted through cupboards for a jar of instant.

She was probably about the same age as Lauren, but had dark, almost black hair. Reed thin and pale, she looked as if she, too, was familiar with drugs. She was wearing jeans that needed a good wash, a grey baggy sweater and a huge pair of black boots.

‘So,’ Max said, as they waited for the kettle to boil, ‘what can you tell me about Lauren? Been friends long, have you?’

‘No. That is, we’re not. I mean we weren’t friends at all really.’ The kettle boiled and she filled it. ‘Oh, sorry, I don’t think there’s no milk.’

‘That’s OK, I take it black. What do you mean, you weren’t friends?’

‘When I split up with the boyfriend, I needed a cheap place to live,’ she explained. ‘Lauren had put an ad in the local shop window.’

‘When was that?’

‘Six weeks ago. I was the first to see it and moved in that same day.’

‘I see. So you didn’t know her well?’

‘Not really, no.’

‘You got along OK though, did you?’

‘I suppose so,’ she said, ‘but she was a bit stuck up. God knows why. I mean, living in a dump like this didn’t give her much to shout about, did it? But she always thought she was better than everyone else. Reckoned her dad had loads of money. Always said he’d give her anything she wanted. I used to ask her what she was doing living here then, but she never gave me a proper answer.’

She hadn’t lied about her father’s wealth. As partner in the thriving Cole and Dawson company, he was more than comfortably off.

‘She was on heroin, wasn’t she?’

Jo chewed on a finger. ‘Dunno about that.’

‘What about her friends? Did you know any of them?’ he asked, changing tack.

‘No. She didn’t bring any of them here.’

‘Her father said she had a boyfriend. Did you know him?’

‘No.’ She looked genuinely puzzled.

‘Someone called Ricky?’

‘Oh, him.’ She nodded. ‘He didn’t last long. She dumped him.’

‘What was his surname?’

‘No idea.’

‘Do you know anything about him? Where he lived? If he worked? Who he hung out with?’

‘I only saw him twice,’ she said. ‘Once, he came back here and spent the night on the sofa. The other time was after she dumped him. She wouldn’t let him in and he started hammering on the door and shouting through the letterbox.’

‘What was he shouting?’

‘Called her a prick tease, if you must know. Accused her of using him. Still, that wouldn’t surprise me. She did use people.’

‘Can you give me a description of him?’ Max asked, not holding out much hope.

She thought for a moment.

‘Quite tall and dark. About the same age as me and Lauren, I suppose. No older than twenty-five at any rate. Bad teeth. In fact,’ she added with a grin, ‘I always reckoned a dentist did his hair and a barber did his teeth. Hair was all shaggy and half his teeth were missing.’

Not Ricky Marshall, surely. Marshall would fit that description and, if Max’s memory served him correctly, and it usually did, he was currently on probation.

‘Like I said,’ Lauren went on, ‘I only saw him twice. And the second time was when he was hammering on the door. I was watching him from the window and I thought he’d have the bloody door bashed in.’

‘But he went away?’

‘Yeah.’

‘And you didn’t hear anything about him after that?’

‘No.’

‘How long ago was that?’

‘A couple of weeks.’

The flat was cold and damp. There was a clothes airer in the corner of the small kitchen and three pairs of wet jeans were draped over it. Without some heat in the room, they wouldn’t be dry before the new year.

‘There was someone else, too,’ she remembered. ‘Josh his name was, but I never saw him. At one time, when I first came here, he was texting or phoning her a dozen times a day. That soon stopped, though. Lauren went out and bought a new sim card for her phone so he wouldn’t know her number.’

‘What did she do with the old card?’ Max asked.

‘Binned it, I suppose.’

They’d found Lauren’s phone in her car. She was on Pay As You Go and, with no contract, it would be almost impossible to get records from the old sim card.

‘Why did he call so often?’ Max asked.

‘Dunno. They’d always argue, though, and more often than not, she’d cut him off.’

‘And you don’t know anything about him?’

‘No. Sorry.’

‘What did Lauren do with her time, Jo? Where did she go?’

‘Dunno really. She walked her dog a lot. What’s happened to him then? The dog, I mean?’

‘He’s being looked after at the kennels,’ Max told her. ‘Where did she walk him?’

‘All over the place. The thing was spoilt rotten. He used to sleep on her bed and on the sofa. Sometimes, if I went to sit down, he’d growl at me. He was only a little thing, but he could be mean. He hated the postman, too. Every time he saw a postman, he went mad. He’d lie in wait and pounce when something came through the letterbox.’

Most dogs hated postmen. Quite right, too, really. Dogs thought it their duty to protect property and it must seem to them that postmen tried to break in on a daily basis.

‘Charlie liked his walks,’ Jo went on. ‘You only had to change your shoes and he thought he was going for a walk. It was always easier to take him than put up with him running around and yapping. She could never tire him out though. She used to take him miles over the hills and he’d still be ready to go again five minutes later.’

Max knew all about that. He shared his home with three dogs and two of them would run all day every day.

‘I heard she was on heroin. Is that right?’ Max tried again.

‘Dunno about that,’ came the same response.

‘Where might she have got it?’

‘I wouldn’t know.’ Jo looked everywhere but at Max.

‘Where do you get yours from, Jo?’

‘Me? Oh, no, I’ve never touched the stuff.’

‘But if you did, who would you get it from?’

‘Dunno, do I?’

Max wasn’t getting much of use from Jo. They needed to find Ricky and, if it wasn’t Ricky Marshall, that was going to be tricky. Officers would have to ask after a man with bad teeth and a dodgy haircut. Still, at least they had a description of sorts. They didn’t even have that for Josh.

He handed Jo a card.

‘If you think of anything else, Jo, anything at all, will you call me?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Anything at all. If you remember anything about her friends, where she went, where her boyfriend, Ricky, hung out – anything at all, OK?’

‘OK. What about the rent on this place? Can I get someone in to share?’

‘You need to discuss that with the landlord.’

‘Does he know? About Lauren I mean?’

‘He does, yes.’

‘I’ll ring him up then and ask if I can put an ad in the shop window.’ With a plan in mind, she looked happier, more relaxed.

It was as if her flatmate had already been forgotten.