21
Dirt and Backhanders
To Emily’s delight, when she emerged from the pub she found it had started to snow. Clouds had drifted in to fill the sky and as the sun dipped behind the hedgerows to the west the first flakes began to settle on the ground. Quickly returning to the holiday let—and making doubly sure that the doors and windows were locked this time—she set out again, a bag under one arm and a torch held in her free hand.
The road to Rowe Farm wasn’t nearly as imposing with a light to guide her, although to be fair she took the shorter route heading left around the church, rather than the right-hand fork which had taken her through forest. Twenty minutes after setting out, she turned into Alan’s driveway, finding a single outside light illuminating the farmyard.
Emily’s knock was
