Jax looked at her. ‘It won’t show anything up because Ffion Hilton’s making the whole thing up.’
‘Why though?’ Pat’s question sounded innocent enough as she took a bite of her Melmerby slice. ‘Why make something like that up?’
‘I keep telling you,’ said Jax, rolling her eyes. ‘To cover up what she did. Shouting at Nev – bringing on his heart attack. Bottom line: the woman didn’t love Nev and now he’s dead, and she stands to get all his money.’ She stood up. ‘Look, are we done now?’
‘How d’you mean “done”?’ asked Liz.
‘When you messaged me – you said you had something to tell me. Was that it? I’m not being funny; I’ve stuff to do. So, if there’s nothing else, I need to be heading off.’
‘No, there’s nothing else really,’ Liz said.
‘Er – the messages?’ prompted Pat, as Jax turned to go.
‘Oh goodness me,’ said Liz, clapping her hand to her foreheadin a way that was almost theatrical. ‘I nearly forgot – how silly of me! The messages!’
Jax turned back. ‘Messages?’ she said.
‘The ones on the village website,’ said Liz. She smiled at Pat. ‘Well remembered!’
‘What about them?’ said Jax suspiciously.
‘Nothing really,’ said Liz. ‘It’ll keep – you’ve got to get off.’
Jax sat back down. ‘I thought those messages had been taken down.’
Liz nodded. ‘They were,’ she said. ‘At least that’s what Zippy told me.’
‘It’s more a case of who put them up there in the first place,’ said Pat.
Jax frowned. ‘I heard they were anonymous.’
‘Ah, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be traced,’ said Pat. ‘Our Liam was telling me all about it; it’s really very clever.’
‘How is Liam?’ broke in Liz brightly. ‘How’s the trip round Europe going?’
‘He’s reached Bologna,’ said Pat. ‘You know he and Bern are staying with Bern’s cousin?’
Liz nodded. ‘She has a house out there, doesn’t she?’
‘Think villa,’ said Pat. ‘Think very plush villa. He Zoomed me last night – and Bern’s sent me some amazing pictures—’
‘What about these messages?’ interrupted Jax.
‘Oh yes.’ Pat frowned in a visible effort of remembrance. ‘Liam was saying apparently all messages leave some sort of footprint.’
‘A footprint?’ said Liz.
‘A digital footprint. Don’task me to explain it,’ said Pat. ‘Our Liam’s the expert. But apparently you can see where the messages originated from.’
‘You mean you can find out who sent them?’ asked Jax.
‘The police can,’ Pat corrected.
‘The police? They not going to be bothered, surely?’ said Jax uneasily.
‘They were some pretty nasty messages,’ said Liz grimly. ‘Insinuating all sorts of things. Very upsetting for Ffion.’
Jax stood up, slightly flushed. ‘Look,’ she said. ‘I’ve got to go.’ She paused. ‘Listen,’ she said. ‘Thanks for all you’ve done, you two and Thelma. But I’ve been thinking. I reckon it’s all best left alone now, don’t you? Stop finding stuff out. People want to move on.’
