Page 48 of Silent Scream

Kim turned to her colleague. ‘See, Bryant, dogs do take on their owner's characteristics.’

‘You know, Detective, after a four o’clock wake-up call and a three and a half hour drive you are definitely not what the doctor ordered.’

‘Is she blind?’ Kim asked as he opened the car door. The dog jumped out and sat. Doctor Bate attached a lead to her red collar and shook his head.

‘The sight in her right eye is perfect.’

Kim guessed the dog to be a white German Shepherd. She stepped forward offering her hand to the dog's nose. ‘Does she bite?’

‘Only arrogant detectives.’

Kim rolled her eyes and stroked the dog's head. Her coat was soft and warm.

Kim was confused. If he'd driven it would have taken far longer than a few hours to travel the 350 miles from Dundee. ‘What's she doing here?’

‘We were taking a few days off after my last case. Scouting rock climbing locations in Cheddar when I got a call from my boss. I was the closest.’

There was no irritation in Daniel’s voice, just an acceptance that such calls came with the job.

Kim felt the dog's warm nose nudge at her right hand, which had absently stopped stroking her head.

‘Hey, look at that, Detective,’ Daniel Bate said with a glint in his eye. ‘At least someone on site likes you.’

Kim was prevented from offering a four-letter-word response by the sound of her mobile ringing.

She hit the call button as Daniel turned and walked the dog around the top end of the field.

‘What’s up, Stace?’

‘Where are yer?’

‘Just about to leave the site. Why?’

‘Are yer facing up or down?’

‘What?’

‘I’ve found William Payne, one of the night porters.’

‘Give me the address.’

‘Look down the hill. Yer should see seven houses in a row. It’s the one smack bang in the middle. The back and front garden are fully slabbed.’

Kim was already walking down the hill. ‘How the hell do you know that?’

‘Google Earth, Guv.’

Kim shook her head and ended the call. Sometimes Stacey really scared her.

‘Where did you say we were going?’

‘To interview our first witness.’

‘Here?’ Bryant asked as she opened the waist high gate.

Eerily, the front garden was a sea of grey slabs. The path was only distinguished by a ramp that grew from it and ended at the front door.

After two knocks the door was answered by a tall male with a head full of completely white hair.