The Kill Call

‘Ah. The fox-hunting re-enactment society, I call them.’

‘I prefer “the unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable”,’ said Fry.

‘That’s not one of my quotes.’

‘No, it’s Oscar Wilde.’

Fry hated not knowing more about the victim. Was he a saboteur? Could his killers have been members of the hunt? But he didn’t look the type to be an animal rights protestor. No mohican, no sabbing equipment. And none of the genuine sabs had any knowledge of him. Or they weren’t willing to admit they had. But why were horses’ hoof marks found? There had to be a reason for their presence, and the hunt were the obvious suspects.

She turned at the sound of clumsy footsteps clattering on the rocks. She was met by a startled gaze and a snort of alarm from a black muzzle.

‘Those damn sheep.’

Then she looked up at the sky in surprise. Well, at least it had stopped raining at last.

Cooper had reached the outer cordon, where blue-and-white crime-scene tape was strung between two gate posts and across the path. He gave his name to the officer at the cordon as he passed through, and saw Fry and Murfin walking back across the field from the body tent. Fry looked cold and tired, her coat and hair filmed with rain.

‘Ben – I didn’t think you were serious,’ she said when he got nearer.

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

‘Nobody comes out of a nice dry office on a day like this, if they can possibly help it.’

‘But I said I’d come, didn’t I? Why would I say that, if I didn’t mean it?’

Fry shrugged. ‘To impress someone?’

Cooper turned away. Though Fry was wrong about his reason, he didn’t want her to probe any further.

‘So what’s the situation?’ he said. ‘Have you got an ID? Any initial lines of enquiry?’

‘Just a minute,’ said Fry. ‘Before you get carried away – I don’t really need you here. I don’t want to be responsible for wrecking the duty roster just because you got bored sitting around on your backside.’

‘Actually, I think you do need me, Diane.’

‘Oh? How do you make that out?’

‘You said members of the Eden Valley Hunt were involved?’

‘They might be. We haven’t established that yet.’

‘Horses, though.’

‘Yes.’

‘And what do you know about horses? What do you know about the hunt, or hunt supporters?’

‘I can ask.’

Cooper gazed steadily at her. ‘You know perfectly well that I can talk to them better than you, and get more information out of them. You’ll just get everyone’s backs up.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘You know what I mean.’

‘No, do tell me. How do I get everyone’s backs up?’

‘Well, I bet you have your own fixed views on field sports already. Have you expressed any opinions yet while you’ve been here? Shall I ask Gavin?’

Fry bit her lip. She always seemed to hate admitting that he was right.

‘All right, I’ll compromise,’ she said finally. ‘I’ll fill you in with what we have so far, and I’ll let you look at the scene. If you can contribute anything useful, you can stay, and I’ll square it with the DI.’

‘Great.’

‘Wait. But if I think you’re just bullshitting and you’ve nothing new to contribute, you’re out of here and back to your paperwork, no matter how boring you’re finding it.’

Cooper smiled. ‘OK, Diane. It’s a deal.’

She looked at him, evidently wondering whether he was serious. She had never really understood him, and he didn’t suppose it was going to be any different today.

Cooper listened carefully while Fry filled him in.

‘These hoof marks,’ said Cooper when she’d finished. ‘You said something about the hunt?’

‘As I told you, the Eden Valley Hunt has been out this morning. There was a police presence for the meet. They were expecting trouble from saboteurs. Got it, too.’

‘Yes, I saw the hunt.’

‘There were so many dogs. Why do they need so many?’

‘Dogs?’ said Cooper. ‘You mean hounds.’

Fry shook her head. ‘I know a dog when I see one.’

Cooper sighed. He’d grown up with a different relationship to the Eden Valley Hunt. Not only did the hunt rely on the goodwill of local farmers, it was one of the great organizers of social events. A dinner dance at Hassop Hall, a hunt ball at the Palace Hotel in Buxton, Buck’s fizz and a horn-blowing competition, a charity auction in aid of the air ambulance … Not many weeks ago, the hunt had thrown their annual Christmas party for farmers’ children. Cooper could recollect being taken to it himself a few times, when he was very small. The parties actually took place just after Christmas – but nevertheless involved a visit by Santa, dropping in at Edendale on his way home to Lapland.

‘But apart from the hoof marks, you have no evidence anyone from the hunt was involved?’

‘Well – that, and all the people milling around on horseback a few hundred yards away from the scene. It’s pretty persuasive circumstantial evidence.’

‘Was it the hounds who found the body?’ asked Cooper.

‘Apparently, they came down this way, but the dog men were on hand – oh, what do you call them?’

‘The huntsman? The whipper-in?’

‘Yes, them. They called the hounds away, but didn’t realize what the pack had found. They assumed it must be a dead sheep or something. It was the helicopter crew who actually called it in.’