DI Walker

THE DAY AFTER THE SOLSTICE

WALKER'S PHONE BUZZES IN HIS pocket. It's the crime scene manager from the SOCO team on the beach.

"Just wanted to keep you abreast of everything."

"Sure. How's it looking there?"

"Tide's fully in," she says. "We got everything we could on site beforehand. The body's on the way to the mortuary now. And we've moved on to the car—the Aston Martin, at the top of the cliffs."

"OK," Walker says. "Anything of interest?"

"There's the blood on the steering wheel. And we've also found a bag in the footwell containing some personal effects. A piece of silver jewelry, a ring. A key, too—looks like a posh hotel key. It reads," she clears her throat: "Woodland Hutch Eleven."