The Kill Call

from a horse and came across the yard to join them, leading her mount by its reins. When she reached them, she took off her helmet and shook her hair free. Mid-twenties, probably. She wore an expensive-looking riding outfit. Nice leather boots. And those beige jodhpurs – they fit her rather well. Fry glanced at Cooper to see if he was noticing.
    ‘This is my daughter, Alicia,’ said Mrs Forbes. ‘I started the yard about ten years ago, and Alicia has been helping me in the business full time for the past four, ever since she graduated. A BHS-qualified instructor, aren’t you, darling?’
    Fry blinked, but then realized the last comment had been addressed to Alicia, not to her or Cooper.
    ‘And she’s terribly interested in the use of complementary therapies,’ said Mrs Forbes. ‘Essential oils and all that, you know.’
    Fry looked at the young girls again, sweating under the weight of rugs and saddles. Feeding, grooming, turning out, bringing in, mucking out … She didn’t know what on earth it all was, but it sounded like an endless amount of work. And for what? For nothing more than the chance to climb on the back of one of these monkey-lipped creatures and prance about the countryside in a pair of fancy leather boots.
    ‘You appreciate we have to try to establish how Mr Rawson died, Mrs Forbes. You, and other members of the hunt, are potential witnesses. What we need from you is a list of who was present at the location of Tuesday’s meet from about eight a. m.’
    ‘Inspector Redfearn already asked us for that information.’
    ‘Yes, he did. But so far as I’m aware –’
    ‘Alicia?’
    The younger woman produced an envelope from the pocket of her body warmer. ‘This is the list you want. The hunt secretary drew it up for you. Names, addresses and phone numbers. The times that each person arrived, and what they were doing between eight o’clock and nine thirty.’
    ‘You’ll find it’s a very short list, I’m afraid,’ said Mrs Forbes. ‘Largely the hunt servants, plus Alicia and I. And we were all much too busy to notice what was going on half a mile away from the meet, I can assure you.’
    Fry could feel herself being pushed on to the back foot, and she didn’t like it.
    ‘Oh yes, of course,’ she said. ‘I suppose you all just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
    She had the satisfaction of seeing a pained reaction. ‘Possibly.’
    ‘We still need to talk to everyone. One of you might have seen something significant.’
    ‘You’ll do what you have to do, Sergeant. Personally, I can tell you right now that I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, or anyone who shouldn’t have been there.’ Mrs Forbes smiled. ‘Apart from the antis, of course. But I don’t need to tell you that, surely? Now, if you’ll excuse me …’
    The woman walked away towards the stables, and could be heard speaking to the girls. Fry turned her attention to Alicia.

    ‘You’re a member of the hunt, too?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And you were out on Tuesday, I gather?’
    ‘Of course. We all want to show our support. But we didn’t see anything, really we didn’t.’
    As the daughter spoke, she moved a hand to stroke the inside of her horse’s leg, where the skin looked smooth and soft. Fry found the gesture somehow disturbing.
    ‘I’ve no idea who that man was who died, and I’m sure Mummy hasn’t either,’ said Alicia. ‘We were just trying to get on with our own business, and avoid the antis. You’d be better talking to them, wouldn’t you?’
    ‘We have talked to them,’ said Fry. ‘But, you see, they weren’t on horseback.’
    Alicia looked away. ‘I can’t help you.’
    The horse swung around restlessly, pointing its haunches at Fry. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Cooper moving away towards Alicia Forbes. But she was feeling more confident now, and she stood her ground, even when the rear end bumped gently against her.
    ‘Do you happen to know the bridlepath called Badger’s Way, Miss Forbes?’ Cooper was asking.
    ‘Yes, I’ve ridden there a few times. But everyone uses it – it’s good to be able to get away from traffic for a while.’
    ‘Yes, of course.’
    ‘There have been several incidents of reckless driving near horse riders in this area. Perhaps you know.’
    ‘Any motorists identified are being warned,’ said Cooper. ‘They could face prosecution for driving without due care and attention.’
    Fry watched, feeling suddenly