The Reservoir Tapes. Jon McGregor

If you could describe her for me. In your own words. What she was like when she was younger. How she’s changed from being a child to being a young teenager. What her – gifts are, if you like. Any challenges there have been. Anything she has found difficult. Anything that comes to mind.

      I know

      I know this is difficult

      this must be very hard for

      of course.

      So, just to pick up again.

      This was the third day of your stay in the village; the idea of a walk had been raised but the weather was looking unsuitable. Becky had got up early, and had breakfast before you. What did she do during the rest of the morning? Had she brought any homework with her?

      She was friendly with the Hunters’ daughter, I understand. Did she spend any time with her that morning?

      Do you know if she was friendly with any of the other young people in the village?

      And you knew about that at the time?

      Had you met any of those young people when you were staying here last summer? Had you seen them when they came up to the Hunters’ property?

      There was one boy in particular who Becky became quite close to, wasn’t there: James?

      I know she’s only thirteen, yes.

      I wasn’t implying

      But he wasn’t someone you were aware of.

      Not at the time.

      So, that morning, Becky went across to the Hunters’ house, and you assumed she was spending some time with their daughter, Sophie.

      And she’s someone who makes friends easily, would you say? Back at home, is she sociable, does she have a range of friends?

      Are there any you’ve been uncomfortable about her associating with? Have her friendship groups changed recently?

      Does she spend much time on the internet?

      Do you monitor that, at all?

      So she was with Sophie, and by late morning she still hadn’t come back. But you had no cause for concern, you had no reason to think they’d gone far. The weather was still wet at that point, wasn’t it?

      And the original idea for the walk had been to get out before lunchtime, but with the weather you’d put that on hold.

      And late in the morning you went across to fetch Becky, from the Hunters’ house. Did you speak to either of Sophie’s parents?

      Both of them? So Sophie and Becky were there by themselves?

      Just Becky, by herself?

      Did you think the Hunters would have minded that?

      Sophie and her parents had been gone all morning, as far as you knew. Becky hadn’t seen them leaving?

      Were you surprised by this, were you concerned?

      How long have you known the Hunters?

      Would you describe them as friends?

      If we could

      to keep to

      So you had lunch, the three of you, together. And there was some discussion about how Becky had spent the morning, was there?

      How would you characterise her response?

      So there was some tension.

      Of course.

      Well, that’s teenagers.

      And is Becky someone comfortable with her own company, would you say? Back at home, would she often spend time by herself in that way, that you know of?

      So were you concerned that her behaviour that morning was out of character, that there might be something else behind it?

      But you didn’t discuss that with her. You put it down to being on holiday, being in a different environment; just, usual teenage restlessness. You got lunch ready.

      And for lunch you had?

      By this point the weather was improving; the rain had stopped, the sky was clearing, and the idea of a walk was suggested again. A decision was made.

      I know.

      A decision was made, and immediately after lunch you began to gather a few things together, look at a map, make a plan. Can I ask what you took with you?

      So you weren’t planning on it being a long walk. You didn’t think it worth taking extra waterproofs as a precaution, snacks, a flask?

      No, of course, and

      No.

      Can I ask how well you know the area? Are you experienced walkers, would you say?

      But this was a route you’d walked in the summer, when you were here before? You’d followed that same path, from the visitor centre, up the hill towards the rock formations on the ridge?

      Black Bull Rocks, right.

      And had Becky been with you on those occasions? Would you say it was a route she was familiar with?

      But on this occasion she was reluctant.

      Perhaps we

      I’m curious

      Did you do a lot of walking when she was younger? Would you say the reluctance on this occasion was more around the tensions between you, rather than the walk itself?

      Would you describe Becky as fit and healthy? Does she do any sports?

      So the walk shouldn’t have been a problem for her.

      I do realise this must be

      of course

      and

      If we could just go through the sequence of events.

      The three of you got into the car, your car, soon after lunch. So this would have been

      2 p.m. Okay. And the weather was clear. You’d asked Becky to wear something more suitable on her feet, but she’d refused and you didn’t want to start another argument.

      That’s understandable.

      You drove a short distance to the visitor centre and parked in the car park there. That would have taken, what, five minutes, ten?

      Was the visitor centre open? Did you see anyone there?

      Were there any other cars in the car park?

      So you parked near the main building, and went through the gate by the display board, following the track which leads diagonally up the hill towards Black Bull Rocks.

      I realise you’ve already

      I just would

      it does help

      Did you have a map?

      Because it was a route you knew. And you can see Black Bull Rocks almost from the car park in any case, can’t you? So it was a simple walk. It was going to be a short walk.

      Did you know how long you were expecting it to take?

      Did you know what time it was going to get dark?

      Had you looked at a weather forecast?

      Did you have a phone with you?

      Had you planned

      No, of course

      no

      I do realise

      It is

      it’s actually rather misleading, isn’t it, the walk up to Black Bull Rocks? The path isn’t as direct as it looks from the bottom of the hill. There are several narrow gorges or valleys on the way. The path drops down steeply and climbs up out of each of these.

      They call them cloughs, locally,