She's slow, lazy and rude. Thank God she's never sworn in front of any customers, but once she's out of their earshot she's as crude as they come. But she can be really surly to them if she's in a bad mood. The last few days have been awful. Her boyfriend has walked out on her apparently, and she's been absolutely foul. And her cold sore didn't help. Who wants to be served by a surly, moody waitress with a weeping lip for goodness' sake?'

She had a cold sore?' Pillay asked.

Well, that's what she told me. I think they'd come to blows, and that's why he left. There were some marks around her cheeks. She'd done her best to cover them with make-up, but I could still see something. I didn't mention it though. She could fly off the handle at the slightest provocation. And she only got the tattoo done a couple of weeks ago.'

Can you explain, please?'

She had a big heart tattooed on her right arm with his name inside. I'm not a great fan of tattoos, but some can look alright. You know, a flower or butterfly. But this was a real monstrosity.'

What was the name?'

Andy. The message inside read Shaz for Andy' but with the word for' written as a number. You know, like text-speak. Really tacky, and that sums up Shaz.'

A sudden thought struck Pillay. Was Donna Goodenough ever an employee or customer here?'

Yes,' he said. I had her as a waitress about three years ago. She was a student, and worked weekends. For about six months, I think. She was about the best waitress I've ever had.'

And Susie Pater?'

No. But there was a customer called Susie who became friendly with Donna.'

Don't you read the papers or watch the news?' Pillay looked across at a couple of tabloids lying on a side table, provided for customers to read.

Not really, apart from the sports section. Don't have much time.'

Pillay was already moving to the door. Thanks. We'll be back in touch.'

She could hardly get her phone out quickly enough.

Marsh replaced the phone carefully into its cradle. He tapped his finger on the desktop for a few moments, then stood up and went in search of Sophie.

I've just had an interesting conversation with someone from Wareham nick, ma'am.'

Go on, Barry. I can see by the look on your face that you might be on to something. Don't leave me in suspense.'

Well, I've been keeping my eye on the log of calls coming in to various stations around the county, just like you suggested. Apparently there's a squad car out at a pool in Wareham Forest just now. A nature reserve ranger called in to report that she suspected something was dumped in the water last night.'

Any other details?'

Not a lot. But a squad car doesn't usually get despatched just because a bit of rubbish has been chucked in the water somewhere. There must have been something suspicious about it. I was thinking of Lydia's news. There's probably no connection, but even so . . .'

Is it possible for us to be put through to the squad car?' Sophie said.

I don't see why not. I'll get the control room, shall I?'

After a minute or two, Marsh handed over the phone, mouthing, One of the guys out there.'

Who am I speaking to?' she asked.

She listened to the slightly crackly reply, and jotted down a map reference.

You know why we might be interested. What can you see?' She listened intently to the reply. Listen, don't disturb anything any further. We're on our way, and I want forensics there just in case. We'll arrange that. Just stay where you are and keep the ranger with you. We should be with you in about half an hour.'

She replaced the phone and unhooked her jacket from the back of the chair.

What was that you said yesterday about not sharing my optimism, Barry? Good job I didn't take you seriously. And well done for spotting that report. It just might be the breakthrough we've been looking for. We're on the move.'

Could they see anything?'

No, it's too murky. They spent some time poking around with a pole. There was something there, but they couldn't tell what it was.'

The pool was set back about three hundred yards from the road, approached by a muddy track that seemed to lose itself in the shadowy gloom created by the overhanging trees. The trees thinned out close to the edge of the pool and the surface of the water showed few reflections. The part of the pool they could see was about half a mile in length, but less than half that in width. A group of people was standing midway along the northern side, where the track ended at a small grassy clearing alongside the water's edge. Sophie peered into the dark, peaty water as the ranger recounted her tale. Alice Llewellyn was a tall, fair-haired young woman dressed in olive-coloured outdoor gear and boots. She told them how she carried out a reconnoitre of the area regularly each morning, and had spotted fresh tyre tracks leading close to the water's edge. The edge of the bank had drag marks on it, as if something heavy had been pulled across it and into the water. She had spotted something just below the water line, looking as though it was a bundle in plastic, but it had slid further under when she'd tried to hook it with a pole. She'd felt uneasy about it and so had reported it to the police.

What made you feel uneasy?' asked Sophie.

Maybe I watch too many crime dramas on TV, or maybe I'm over-imaginative, but it gave me the creeps. It was lodged on the edge of those reeds, but below the water line. And it had the shape of . . . well, you know. As I tried to hook it, it got dislodged, and it was gone in an instant. It must have been heavy. These guys arrived and we poked around. We hit something solid but the pole just slid off it.'

She looked rather frightened.

Look, you don't have to stay. It'll be a little while before our forensic and underwater squads arrive. Would you prefer to wait back in your office or at home?' Sophie said.

The ranger shook her head. Are you kidding? This is my patch. I'm responsible for it. Anyway, you might find something, and I don't want to miss that. Things can be a bit dulls out here. Don't think that I'm complaining. I chose this job. But some excitement is no bad thing. What I can do is to go and get some coffee for everyone. Would that be okay? We've got a stack of flasks in the centre - we use them when we have school groups here.'

That would be just perfect, Alice,' Sophie said.

Any chance of choccy biscuits?' asked the younger of the two uniformed men, with a wink. Alice smiled and nodded before heading off down the track.

Sophie moved to one side and rang Pillay for an update. McGreedie's team had been due to arrive at Shaz Fellows's flat in Bournemouth in order to carry out a search.

Alice had only just returned with the coffee when the first of the vans arrived, disgorging a mass of equipment, followed by a Land Rover with the underwater squad. It was an hour before the divers were kitted out and ready to start the search. Sophie didn't envy them as they slid into the dark cold water. The pool was about seven feet deep at that point and the divers' underwater lights could only just be seen by the group standing on the bank. Within a few minutes one of them surfaced and called for a sling to be taken down. Two of the divers then resurfaced at the waterside with a bundle wrapped in black plastic sheeting. It was carefully hauled onto the bank, a few bedraggled strands of weed still lying draped across the surface. Sophie turned to the white-faced ranger who nodded.

That's it.' She held her hand to her mouth.

Sophie turned to the senior forensics officer. Let's get it open for a quick look. If it is what we think, we'll need a tent up, so be ready. It may have only gone in last night.'

She took hold of the ranger's arm and steered her away. Alice, thanks for all your help. This is where things might get nasty. You can remain if you wish. But you could be in for a shock if you wait around here. Believe me, if it is a body, then this won't be a very pleasant place to be in the next few minutes. You'd be better off away from here. I can keep you informed by phone if you wish. Alternatively, you could sit in your jeep.'

Yes, I'll do that. I want to know what's happened and I'd just fret if I was back at home or in the office.'

Can we see all of the pool from here? It's just that I can't make out the western edge. It disappears behind the trees. Is there any more?' Sophie asked.

Yes. It widens again round the corner, but that part doesn't belong to the nature reserve. It's fenced off, and the land is owned by a gravel extraction company. You can see the start of the fencing if you look carefully. Here, use my binoculars.'

Sophie could just make out the posts of a chain-link fence between gaps in the trees that ran down to the water's edge.

It's deeper than this end, but it isn't accessible. The whole of that area was owned by a mineral company, but they went bust before they could start extracting. Some kind of conglomerate has it now, but they haven't done anything about using it. I'm quite glad, because I don't want a lot of noisy trucks here.'

So how do you get into it?'

There's a rough track that comes off the road a mile or so further along. It loops around the higher ground and doubles back. But there's a locked gate at the lower end as the track leaves our land and access to the pool area is barred at the top end by a high security gate set into the fencing. It's kept padlocked.'

Do you check it each morning as well?'

No. It's off my normal route, and the approach is very rough. But it is kept secured. I check the top gate once a week or so but, as I said, the area inside the fence doesn't come under our responsibility. Its upkeep is still down to the mineral company.'

When did you check the gate last?'

Middle of last week, I think. Why are you interested?' She paused. Sorry, that's a stupid question.'

So there shouldn't be any possibility of illegal dumping of any kind there?'

No. It's so out of the way that very few people go anywhere near it. The approach track has deteriorated badly and is full of potholes. There's never been a problem, as far as I know, probably because free access is impossible.'

Can we have a look later? It seems foolish to be here and not to check.'

Only from the outside. I don't have a key to the top gate, that's easily accessible. We do have one for emergencies and for my annual check, but it's kept in the safe at the office. It's not our land, you see.'

Sophie nodded. The ranger went to sit in her jeep. Sophie and Marsh returned to the poolside and watched the forensic team start their work. They slit carefully down the side of the plastic, and peeled it back. The body was wrapped in an old rug, weighted down with a length of chain. It was a young woman with streaky, blonde hair. Her eyes gazed upwards. Water had not yet penetrated through the outer plastic layer which had been sealed with waterproof tape, so the corpse still looked as though it could be brought back to life, if only someone could wave a magic wand and chant the right spell.

We need to see the right upper arm and shoulder,' Sophie said.

One of the team carefully loosened the thin, white, waitress's blouse to show the tattoo on her upper right arm.

That's her. Don't do anything else other than check her body temperature. I want Benny Goodall brought in to do the rest.' She turned to Marsh. Phone Lydia and let her know.'

She went outside to speak to the diving team, who had finished their search of the immediate area with no further discoveries. They were asked to wait on site a little longer. The two detectives joined the ranger in her jeep and asked her to take them to the fenced-off section. She drove the jeep back to the road and further north for a mile. She stopped at a pull-in beside a metal five-barred gate and unlocked it. It moved easily on its hinges as she pulled it open.

It looks new,' said Marsh.

It is. We only replaced the old timber gate two days ago. It had been here for decades and some of the wood was rotting badly. We had this one spare back at the centre, and it was an easy job to swap them over.'

Was the old one kept locked, Alice?' Sophie asked.

Yes. We had a padlock on it, probably as old as the gate itself. This one has an intrinsic lock fitted, so it should be more secure.'

The ranger had been right about the track. The jeep bounced and swayed up the rutted path. Pebbles shot away from under the moving tyres and struck the rocky ground at the side of the path.

You said that the mineral company owns this track,' Sophie said.

That's right, but we have access as far as the security gate. That's why I had the key for the bottom gate on me. It's convenient for getting to the north end of our land, although it's pretty rough, as you can see.'

It took ten minutes to drive to the start of the fenced area. The high, steel-mesh gate across the rough track was still in good condition, and the fitted lock holding the two gates together was still rust-free and securely locked.

Barry Marsh inspected it closely. Have you opened it recently?' he asked.

No, no one's been inside for months. Someone from the mineral company checks inside once a year. If I'm free I come with them. The last time was in the spring.'

Marsh sniffed the lock. Someone's used a lubricating spray on it, and not very long ago.'

He looked at the ground immediately below the lock. There were a couple of tell-tale drips of the lubricant on the gravel. He rubbed the end of his finger in one of them, then sniffed it cautiously.

Yes, fairly fresh.'

Could someone from the mineral company have come up here without your knowledge?' asked Sophie.

I suppose it was possible until two days ago when we replaced the lower gate. We haven't sent them their copy of the key yet. It's still lying in my in-tray at the office. So no one could have come up here since then. To be honest, I don't see how anyone could have been up here before then. The company always phones to let us know when they want to carry out a visit, and that hasn't been since last year.'

And you don't hold a key for this gate?'

Not on me. It's not our property, you see. The key's kept in a safe at the office and I take it once a year for my site check.'

We'll need to get inside, Alice. I'm afraid you'll have to get it. I'll come with you, while Barry waits here.'

Okay. It'll take us about half an hour.'

Marsh didn't look particularly pleased about having to wait by himself in this desolate spot.

Could I borrow your binoculars?' he asked. I may as well have a good look round while I wait.'

The jeep was back within twenty minutes. Sophie was nursing a slight bruise on the side of her head caused by bouncing into the door after one particularly vicious lurch.

There's a faint mark of tyre tracks just inside the gate,' Marsh reported on their return. But no other signs of recent access, as far as I can see. The tracks might be old indentations from years ago.'

The lock opened fairly easily, but the gates were stiff on their hinges.

Grass and weeds grew in the stony surface, but there were two or three muddier patches in the track. It was here that Marsh thought he could make out the faint imprint of vehicle tracks. The only wildlife in sight were some ragged-looking crows that flapped lazily away as their vehicle approached. A final turn brought them to a hard surface overlooking a still area of water, shadowed all around by the dark trees and a grey rock face. It looked like strong, black tea.

How many times have you been up here?' asked Sophie.

Only a couple of times. As I said, someone from the parent mineral company does an inspection once a year, and if I'm free I come with them. It always gives me the creeps.' Alice wrapped her arms around her midriff.

How do they carry out the inspection?'

Mainly visually. They check the vertical rock face for signs of slippage. They also poke down into the water surface with a pole.'

Well, let's have a look. Try using the extending pole just here.'

Alice nodded and pulled the pole out to its full length. She walked over to the water's edge and started to poke below the surface.

It's rather deeper at the edge compared to my end of the pool, and a lot deeper in the middle. There's no way of checking the middle without a boat or raft of some type, so they just poke around down here close to the edge. There's never anything here, though.'

Let's hope that's still the case,' Sophie answered.