‘I’m with you on that,’ Clove told her, ‘unless he was indoctrinated too. Anyway, from some of the feedback, you’d think it was a holiday camp he had going over there. Or a retreat of some sort.’
‘The fact that it has no internet presence when people are obviously coming and going quite a lot makes it weird,’ Connor stated.
‘It seems to be word of mouth recommendation,’ Cristy said, ‘which could make it cult-adjacent at the very least. On the other hand, I’m not getting the impression anyone is going there to live permanently – more to be with him and to enjoy the therapy facilities, whatever they might be.’
‘There’s one way to find out,’ Connor declared. ‘Let’s pay him a surprise visit.’
‘We’ve got a phone number,’ Clove reminded him.
‘Which would open us up to being knocked back. So, I say we go in carefully, see if we can get the lie of the land before knocking on the door.’
‘I agree,’ Cristy said, and from the way Connor looked at her, she immediately wondered if she’d sounded too enthusiastic and perhaps needed to tone down a bit. ‘But don’t let’s delude ourselves here,’ she continued, hoping she sounded normal. ‘I’m sure he already knows about the podcast; he’s probably seen our website, and if heissome sort of master-manipulator, there’s a good chance he’s been directing at least some of the feedback we’ve had so far.’
After sitting with that for a moment, Connor said, ‘Even if he’s expecting us – and I guess that’s what you’re saying – he won’t knowwhenwe’re coming, so I still say we go.’
Not arguing, Cristy turned to Jacks. ‘It’s a shame we don’t have some images of him. Any luck with that yet?’
‘Still trying, but here’s a link to Google Maps showing the farm, or whatever it is now … Copyright is listed as 2025, but the image capture dates back to 2016. Still, it’s something to start with.’
They spent the next few minutes studying the satellite view of a sprawling old farmhouse in the midst of mountainous countryside, with several outbuildings around the main property, probably barns, maybe stables; it was hard to tell, as the closer they zoomed in, the more blurred the images became.
‘What’s that there?’ Connor asked, pointing to a sandysplodge of terrain fifty yards or so from the main house. ‘Could be a building site?’
‘Looks like it,’ Cristy agreed. ‘Are those cottages or animal pens next to it? Anyway, the river running through the heart of the valley is clearly the Wye, and those woods just beyond the barns …’ She switched to street-view and dragged the image in a semi-circle until it showed a small, tight copse. ‘We could head there,’ she suggested. ‘It’s right next to the house and would give us some cover …’
‘Hang on – we’re looking at mid-summer images,’ Jacks cautioned. ‘There’s no guarantee those trees are in leaf right now.’
‘They’re mostly Scots pine,’ she said, ‘so they’ll be fine. And that enormous one between the house and barn is a yew, so definitely a friend.’ She sat back and looked at the others. ‘Of course, much could have changed since these shots were taken, but at least this gives us the start of a plan.’
Connor checked the time. ‘We have less than an hour before this week’s drop,’ he warned them, ‘so let’s go back to the trial and Nicole’s collapse in court when she realized she was going down for a crime she’s always claimed she didn’t commit – until suddenly she confesses, all these years later, and yet she still can’t or won’t say where the bodies are. We can use that last bit, can’t we? It’s not suggesting any doubt about the confession, just that there are still questions to be asked.’
Cristy was already shaking her head. ‘Maybe end it with “until she suddenly confessed,”’ she said. ‘That way it’s clean and gives no rise to ambiguity just in case anyone from the prison service is listening. I’m also thinking of Meier – and, of course, Nicole herself.’
Later, after the drop and usual drinks, Cristy was at home, already in pyjamas and curled up on the sofa, thinking sohard about David that when her phone rang, she actually expected it to be him.
It was Jodi, Connor’s wife, who she’d said good night to outside the office less than an hour ago.
Pushing past the crush of disappointment, she clicked on with an affectionate, ‘Hi. Everything OK?’
‘Sure, we’re good, thanks. Another great episode, and Con’s keeping me abreast of what’s coming down the line, so you must be pleased with the way things are going?’
‘Absolutely, but I know you’re not ringing about that, so what’s really going on?’
‘Well, I was hoping you might tell me. Con says you haven’t been yourself lately, and I could see tonight that you were … Are you upset about something?’
‘I’m fine,’ Cristy insisted, doing her best to sound it. ‘Just a lot on my mind – nothing for you guys to worry about.’
‘But we do. You know how much you mean to us, and if something’s bothering you …’
‘Honestly, I’m good. It’s just … Well, David and I …’ In a rush of emotional frustration she suddenly blurted, ‘I think we’re splitting up.’
‘What?’ Jodi cried in disbelief.
‘… But it’s OK. I’m dealing with it, and having a new series underway is definitely helping.’
‘I can come over,’ Jodi told her. ‘If I leave now, I’ll be there in less than twenty—’
‘No, please don’t. I mean, thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it, but I’ve got a killer headache, and I was about to turn my phone off to try and get some sleep.’
