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By Root 586 0

the tall hedge in the direction of Ronnie Trewell's house. He couldn't see it at all from the front gardens, but he still felt compelled to keep an eye on the moorland above it in case he saw anyone there. He thought again of Ronnie and Dougie with the dog. Whichever way he came at it, he couldn't see either of them writing the notes. Clive Trewell was the more obvious suspect. But Jonas had a lingering memory of Clive Trewell once picking him off the pavement after a spectacularly ill-judged wheelie had left him flat on his back outside the Red Lion, with a BMX bike on his chest.

The memory absolved Clive Trewell in Jonas's eyes.

There were a dozen homes within a hundred yards of the stile, and the moor was open to all. Anyone could have stood where he'd stood; anyone could have seen him in the bath.

Anyone.

This morning, for the first time in his life, he'd pulled the blind down while showering.

Just after Mrs Paddon waved, Lucy knocked on the front window and mimed a cup of tea at him, but he was already late, so he tapped his watch at her. She blew him a kiss instead and he grinned and blushed - too embarrassed to blow one back in front of Mrs Paddon, even though he knew that was ridiculous. But she'd known him as a child, and that made all the difference.

He turned as a car pulled up with a slushy squeak outside the front gate.

Marvel.

Jonas's heart sank. Something told him Marvel hadn't stopped by to give him a lift to Margaret Priddy's doorstep.

He glanced back at Lucy and saw her face became quizzical. She must have seen the wariness on his. Jonas didn't want Lucy seeing anything of Marvel's attitude towards him, partly for her sake, partly for his own, so he went through the old wooden gate and down the three stone steps and walked round to the driver's door. Marvel's window was open.

'What the fuck are you playing at, Holly?'

Jonas was confused. 'I'm sweeping my path, sir.'

'Are you being funny?'

'No, sir. I don't think so.'

'The lab called to say your hair and fibres are all over Margaret Priddy and Yvonne Marsh.'

Jonas looked blank. Why was that a shock to Marvel? He'd have been shocked if his hair and fibres hadn't been found on both victims.

'And the button you found in the guttering? Mass produced for the uniform trade. Probably pulled it off your own fucking trousers when you climbed up there!'

'No, sir. I--'

'Are you trying to make me look like a fucking fool?' spat Marvel.

Jonas was caught off-balance by this sudden switch.

'Excuse me, sir?'

'Those bastards in the lab are laughing at me because of you, you understand?'

Jonas did understand - that Marvel was an insecure arsehole.

So he said 'Yes, sir, I understand.' And then carefully reminded Marvel, 'But I checked that I hadn't lost a button, and I was at both scenes ...' He tailed off at the immutable glare Marvel had fixed on him.

Marvel looked up - and up - at Jonas Holly. The expression on the young PC's face was utterly sincere - even hurt. Marvel pursed his lips. 'This is your last chance, Holly. Another fuck up like this and--'

'I didn't fuck-up,' Jonas said sharply, then added a considered 'sir'.

Marvel was surprised by the sudden display of backbone but it cut no ice with him. He was so fucking angry about the lack of progress and then that bastard Reeves giggling like a hippy down the line at him ... Yelling at Jonas Holly was like kicking the cat: satisfying even while serving no purpose.

'Watch your fucking tone, Holly.'

Jonas knew he had to back off now or engage in open warfare with a senior officer who wielded almost complete power over him. So he swallowed some of his pride and said, 'Sorry, sir.'

Marvel grunted and put the car into gear.

'You'd better start taking your job more seriously while you still have one.'

He pulled away sharply before Jonas could answer, forcing him to step quickly out of the way.

Jonas watched the car fishtail a little in the snow. He knew it was a hollow threat, but it still made him think.

He'd have to be careful around Marvel.

*

A & D MARSH MOTOR REPAIRS read the sign on