stupid bumpkin copper who would go along with anything he was asked to do.
466
Cooper had no idea what bigger cause he was expected to become a minor sacrifice for. Probably an undercover operation against major drug dealers, or some other large-scale organized crime. For himself, he didn’t really care. But Diane was expected to be an unwitting sacrifice, too.
And worst of all was the fact that the whole plan seemed to have been put together with such casual arrogance. He was appalled and infuriated by the utter cynicism of the idea that he would willingly be the means of destroying someone’s hope someone who apparently considered him a friend.
‘Angle, you should tell your friend that he ought to have trained you to lie better,’ he said, and put his foot down to drive a little faster as he hit the A628.
Angie slumped back against the headrest of her seat. ‘I’m sure there’s a way out of this situation,’ she said.
‘Yes, there is.’
She rolled her head wearily and looked at him sideways.
‘What do you suggest?’
There’s always a way out of situations like this/ said Cooper. ‘It takes a bit of courage, but it’s the only way.’
‘I’ve a feeling it might be something I don’t want to hear about.’
As the white turbines of the wind farm appeared to the north and the air shaft for the railway tunnels came into view on the face of the opposite hill, Cooper began to feel more and more in control of the situation. It was the first time he’d felt in control since he’d visited Withens.
This way involves telling the truth,’ he said.
Angie sighed. That’s what I was afraid you’d say.’
467
43
Most of the visitors to Withens were carrying umbrellas or wearing nylon cagoules with hoods turned up against the gentle rain. At least Eric Oxley wouldn’t have to water the well dressing much today.
Ben Cooper had taken up a position on the edge of the small crowd surrounding the well dressing. The sight of the tourists had just reminded him that he’d made another date with Peggy Check for this afternoon, and he had let her down again. He hoped she would understand. There was already too much in his life that was going to be hard to explain.
Cooper didn’t have to wait long before Diane Fry came to stand at his side.
‘So how were the Renshaws?’ he said.
Fry hunched her shoulders in a characteristically tense gesture. ‘Sarah Renshaw forced me to watch a video of Emma. A selection of memories, specially edited. One sequence showed Emma in black make-up, playing the recorder for the Border Rats.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Funnily enough, Neil Granger was in it, too.’
Cooper hadn’t brought an umbrella, or a waterproof. He could feel drops of the Withens rain starting to trickle down his collar.
‘What’s the progress on Philip Granger?’ he said.
‘We think he’s pretty well tied down for the killing of his brother. It’ll be up to the lawyers whether they go for a murder charge or H manslaughter. We can’t prove his intention.’
‘Did any of the Oxleys know that it was Philip who killed his brother?’
They say not. And do you know, Ben, I think I actually believe them.’
469
‘Maybe it just wouldn’t occur to them - he was a member of the family, after all.’
‘We can all be wrong about our family.’
‘Yes.’
‘But there isn’t enough evidence to charge Philip Granger with the murder of Emma Renshaw. Not unless Emma’s body turns up. We did trace the phone thief through his prints - they were all over it, but they were left in the blood after it had dried. He was picked up at Matlock, and he’s told us where he found the phone.’
‘It was Emma’s blood?’
‘They matched the DNA.’
‘So he picked up the phone, found it didn’t work, and dumped it. Or noticed the blood and panicked.’
‘Yes.’
Cooper began to move away, but Fry held him back by putting her hand on his arm. He wished she wouldn’t touch him. The way it made him feel didn’t help him to be sure in his own mind that he was doing the right thing. He could only hope that she ;
wasn’t going to ruin it completely and be nice to him.
‘And while we’re on the subject, Ben, asking the National Grid maintenance man to check the tunnel under the air shaft was a very good thought.’
‘Thanks.’
‘It’s a pity you completely forgot to mention it to me.’
‘Right. Sorry.’ ,
