Dead Man Walking

‘Why should she? Well … how about no heating, total isolation, working the land at that age, next to no money …’

‘It’s her life,’ Mary-Ellen shrugged.

‘Well …’ He rubbed his chin. ‘She may not be in as much danger as we think. First of all, like I say, this guy might have left the area. Secondly, he may not even know she’s there. Thirdly, if he does, she may not be his type …’

‘His type?’ Hazel said. ‘So he is going for more victims?’

‘It’s way too early to make that assumption,’ Heck replied.

‘Even though you clearly have?’

‘Hazel, it’s my job to prepare for the worst. Annie Beckwith’s in a vulnerable position, and we’ll get up there at some point to check, but I’m not sure there’s anything we can do for her right at this moment.’

‘Why don’t I go up there?’ Hazel suggested.

‘What?’

‘You two have got things you need to do. I know Annie better than you two, anyway. I can drive to the Ho, and walk up the Track.’

‘I’m really not sure that’s a good idea,’ Heck said. He didn’t elaborate, but his head was suddenly full of images from the Stranger enquiry back in the West Country all those years ago: ‘Police Eyes Only’ photos of female victims lying in the back seats of cars, stabbed multiple times, genitals torn, eyes gouged.