charm, the easy, relaxed confidence.
And the oddest thing: Flora, with nothing at all to hide, felt nervy and guilty and afraid, while Nigel, with the most to fear, was as relaxed and confident as sheâd ever seen him.
----
MG11 WITNESS STATEMENT
Section 1âWitness Details
NAME: Richard John HARRISON
DOB (if under 18; if over 18 state âOver 18â)Â Â Â Â Over 18
ADDRESS: Â Â Â Â 35 Priory Acre
                      Morden
                      Briarstone
OCCUPATION: Retired
Section 2âInvestigating Officer
DATE: Thursday 1 November
OIC: DC 8745 Alastair WHITMORE
Section 3âText of Statement
I am a retired accountant and I live in the village of Morden. On the morning of Thursday 1 November I was walking my Jack Russell, Lima, on the Downs outside the village. Our usual walk takes us across the fields to the old quarry at Ambleside, skirting round the top of the quarry, and then back home.
I left home at around 6.30. It was still quite dark but by the time we reached the quarry it was fairly light. I estimate that we were there no later than seven.
When we reached Ambleside quarry Lima ran off into the bushes, barking. I believed she was chasing a rabbit and I followed her because I didnât want her to go over the edge of the quarry. When I cleared the bushes I noticed that there was a car lying on its roof at the foot of the cliff on the far side of the quarry. I believe this is directly under where the car park is situated.
I could not see what make of car it was, except that it was silver in color. I do not believe the car had been there yesterday when we took our walk as I would have noticed it.
I called out in case someone was trapped in the car, shouting that I was going to get help.
I walked back to the path where I found Lima waiting for me. I attached her lead and walked quickly home, where I phoned for the police and an ambulance.
Section 4âSignatures
__________________________
__________________________
WITNESS: (R Harrison)
OIC: (A Whitmore)
----
20:39
It was heading toward nine, and Lou was reaching the point where nothing more could be usefully done until the morning. She would grab a takeaway on the way homeâher stomach was growling and she realized she hadnât eaten anything since the Kit Kat sheâd had in the morning.
âI thought you said the witness saw the car go over the cliff?â she asked Ron when the statement came back.
âSorry, maâam, it was third-hand info by the time I got it. We know it definitely happened overnight, though. The countryside warden says it wasnât there at six the night before. PM on the body should tell us more.â
âDo we have any idea when thatâs going to be?â
âIâve asked for it to be prioritized and linked it to Op Nettle. Might have it by the morning if weâre lucky. They recovered the body and the car.â
Back in her office, she braced herself to phone Andy Hamiltonâs mobile. Went through the motions of looking it up on the Force Directory, even though she knew it off by heart.
âAndy, itâs me,â she said when he answered.
âYeah,â he said.
Of course. He knew her number as well as she knew his. God, this was so awkward; she was glad sheâd managed to push him aside to the other body. With a bit of luck, the two cases would be completely unrelated and she could get another DI in.
Could she ever be that lucky? Of course not.
âArea are desperate to get rid of this one, Boss. Theyâve been on to Mr. Buchanan, claiming itâs definitely linked to Hermitage Farm. I think weâre going to have to take it.â
Shit! Shit! Sheâd completely forgotten to phone the superintendent back. She would have to do it the minute she got off the phone.
âHave they got