Evil Valley by Simon Hall

teacher’s voice, the way he’d come to differentiate between their private and professional discussions. Dan wondered whether he was aware of it.
    ‘Can I emphasise that you’re here as a witness?’ said the detective. ‘None of this is for broadcasting, OK? It could prejudice my inquiry.’
    ‘Sure, but your inquiry? What about the shooting?’
    ‘The High Honchos don’t like the look of this one so they’ve put me on it. I’ve done about all I needed to on the shooting anyway. Suzanne and Claire have taken over helping Whiting. It’s more routine now and doesn’t need such a senior officer as me. They can handle it.’
    That explains the lack of a reply from Claire, thought Dan. So I probably don’t need to worry that she’s playing it cool for some fearful reason. But it would be good to hear from her. Dan knew it was just her way not to reply to texts quickly, particularly when she was busy. But it didn’t stop it from playing on his mind. He always replied to her as soon as he could.
    Dan forced his attention back to the street. ‘You don’t look entirely distraught at being off the shooting inquiry.’
    ‘Our previous discussions on that matter still stand,’ replied Adam coolly. ‘Now come and sit in the van and have a look at this letter. That’s more important.’
    Adam hopped up the van’s step, pushed past a uniformed sergeant blowing on a steaming cup of tea and pulled a small table down from the inside wall. He took a piece of paper from the inside pocket of his jacket.
    “Mr Daniel Groves,
    Wessex Tonight,
    Crime Correspondent,
    And Pig Lover.”
    Dan stared at it. The feeling of disquiet was growing. ‘Well … I’ve had more pleasant introductions. What … what do you make of it?’
    ‘The first thing is – why the hell is this guy leaving a note for you at all? And then, why address it so formally and politely, up until that last line? Why not just Dan Groves, or Dan Groves, TV reporter, or something like that, or just something more abusive?’
    ‘And pig lover? I like a bit of bacon in a sandwich, but I’m not noted for being a lover of pigs.’
    ‘That, I think, refers to us, the police. It ties in with the severed pig’s head. Read on to the letter. It’s bizarre.’
    Adam turned the sheet over.
    “Dear Mr Groves,
    You’ll no doubt be wondering why I’m writing to you. Well, let me tell you that straight away. It’s because I think you may understand what I’m doing and why.
    “Allow me to take a step back before I go on. I’ve seen you on the television of course, but what marked you out as distinctive in my mind was when you solved the riddle of the Death Pictures. Do you remember all those articles the newspapers ran on you, and the wonderful pictures of you and Rutherford? It was then I began to think you might understand me. Anyone who is a dog lover must be a good person, I thought.
    “But I have to confess I’m disappointed in you. You haven’t just been reporting on crimes, as your job dictates, have you? You’ve been solving them – not only the Death Pictures but also the Edward Bray murder. You seem to have become very close to the police, very close indeed. And I don’t think that’s wise.
    “Apologies, I digress. This is what is important. After today, you and I are both set on the path that I have chosen for us. The other players we shall require in our drama are merely the supporting cast, although it may not always seem so. There is only one question that remains to be answered, and that is how exactly this will end.
    “In fact, that’s a little misleading. It implies you have a power over a larger part of the action than is actually the case. Only the very last act in our drama remains unresolved. All else is set. And it is the last act, which will be determined by you, your bravery and intellect. My only regret is that I will not be there to see how it is played out.
    “My intentions will become clear over the next few days. Then you