‘Like I said, this is all in the coroner’s report.’
‘Can you at least give me the name of the podcaster who was here asking questions? Maybe they found something.’
‘I don’t remember their name.’
Maybe I had been wrong about her secretly welcoming this discussion. She had clammed up.
‘Brenda told me there was another death at the caves, some time ago.’
‘There was an accident back in 2006. But that was before I moved here.’
‘Were any of the Grants involved?’
Jasmine’s eyebrows shot up at this.
‘Why don’t you ask them yourself? I think it’s time for you to go home.’
‘Can I at least leave you my card?’ I offered it to her,but she didn’t take it, so I left it on the counter, next to the cooling bread.
‘I’m going to give you a lift back,’ Susan said, not promising to make any effort to find the name of the podcaster. ‘I don’t want anyone else freezing to death here. Let me find my car key.’
She left the room and Jasmine immediately leaned towards my ear. ‘I’m sure she’s hiding something. Don’t you? Why—’
She stopped as Susan re-entered the room and said, ‘Come on, then.’
She drove us back, the windscreen wipers on her car barely able to keep up with the sleet, so Susan had to lean forward and drive slowly.
‘Can I ask you something?’ I said.
‘Another thing?’
‘The Grant family. I get the impression they’re not very popular around here.’
There was a long silence. I could tell I had surprised Jasmine and that she wanted to ask more, but she waited for Susan’s response, which came as we pulled up outside the house.
‘I’ve only been here a few years– moved here during the pandemic– so I don’t know much about them. But aye. If you do decide to go ahead and make a film here, I don’t know how much cooperation you’ll get, if you’re one ofthem.’
‘But why?’
Another long silence. ‘I’m not sure. All I can tell you is people around here have long memories.’ She opened the car door. ‘They bear grudges.’
10
Holly’s bath appeared to have rejuvenated her. She looked fresh and relaxed as Jasmine and I came through the front door, sleet dripping off us.
‘Look at you,’ Holly said, taking my wet coat then helping Jasmine with hers. ‘Where have you been?’
I told her.
‘Oh.’ Her face fell.
‘What is it?’
‘Nothing. I just… I think all this true-crime stuff is beneath you. You could be making more important work.’
I was so stunned that I stumbled over my next words. ‘I don’t…’ I shook my head. ‘I think thisisimportant. Or could be, anyway.’
‘I know, I know. Getting closure for his parents, et cetera. I get that. But your last film was a mystery. Maybe your next one should be more hard-hitting. More political.’
