Page 16 of Four of Hearts

‘For the celebration or wedding or whatever you want to call it.’

‘You’re coming, then?’

‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ve booked somewhere to stay. Decided I’d use this as an excuse to get away for a few days. Never been to Wensleydale in my life.’

Harry still wasn’t sure why he’d invited her. It wasn’t like they were close. In fact, a good deal of their relationship had been built on arguments behind closed doors, and others very much out in the open. She had done her best to keep an eye on Ben, though, plus, if it hadn’t been for her sending him north in the first place, his life would now be looking very different.

‘It’s a beautiful place,’ said Harry. ‘As for the wedding, it’s all going okay, I think. Didn’t give ourselves much time, but I think that’s all for the good. Can’t be doing with hanging around.’

‘You’re the most impatient man I’ve ever known,’ Firbank said.

‘I’m not impatient, I just like to get on with things, that’s all.’

‘Exactly. Let me know what he says when you speak to him, won’t you?’

‘I will.’

And with that, the call was over.

Harry stared for a moment into the flames. They weren’t licking the sky with as much keenness now, and the cool breeze was starting to dampen them rather than encourage. He took out the digital recorder, listened to the message again, and tapped in the number at the end. He went to call it, thought twice, didn’t. He needed to build himself up for that. Instead, he sauntered back to where Ethan and Liz were staring at him as they leaned against the bonnet of his Rav.

‘Everything okay?’ Ethan asked. ‘What did they say?’

Harry realised that Ethan and Liz had thought he had walked off to call the number he’d just saved in his phone.

‘Spoke with Firbank,’ he said. ‘My old D-Sup. She’s seeing what she can dig up.’

‘So, you didn’t phone them, then, whoever it was that did all this?’

Harry shook his head.

‘Just because someone says jump doesn’t mean you have to.’

‘Not everyone tells you to jump by trying to blow you up,’ said Liz.

‘They weren’t,’ said Harry. ‘Now, has either of you called the fire service to deal with this mess yet?’

Liz and Ethan stared at each other.

‘Er, no, actually,’ Ethan said.

Harry rested a heavy hand on Ethan’s shoulder.

‘Best you had then, don’t you think?’

EIGHT

As distractions from planning a wedding went, the incident involving Matt, and the car inferno at the top of Beggarman’s, were really going all out for top marks. Harry was somewhat relieved that the rest of the day was relatively calm. Jen and Jadyn had done well with collecting what evidence they could from the collision on the road below Burtersett. Harry, with the help of Ethan and Liz, had searched the site of the burning SUV, not that there was all that much left to search. They took a few more photographs as well, but that was about it. Even the numberplates were ruined.

By the time the fire had been extinguished, and the ruined skeleton of heat-twisted metal that remained taken away, the afternoon was already growing late. Popping into the Penny Garth Café, Harry grabbed the three of them sandwiches so heavy with their respective fillings that he felt like he was passing around three fat, exceptionally tame, dachshunds, wrapped in greaseproof paper.

Back in the office, Dave almost jumped on Harry for news of what had been going on.

‘Jim’s been on the phone,’ he said, and showed Harry a list of names that he didn’t have time to read, ‘and he’s not the only one, as you can see.’

Harry was momentarily confused. Jim knew?

‘But he’s not even on duty, Dave. How did he, in fact, how did any of those people, find out about what’s been going on?’