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that’s an easy one,” Holly said. “Witchcraft in the Calder Valley. Witchcraft is one of his obsessions. One of the first books he wrote was a history of the Salem witch trials. He’s had an interest in it ever since.”
    Carter turned to Annie. “Did you know that was what he was working on?”
    She shook her head. “I knew he had some theories about the deaths, but Henry always plays his cards very close to his chest. He’s a very secretive man. I rather hoped he’d open up to you last night, but he seemed to resent you being here, which is odd if, as Holly said, he thought you might help him with his research.”
    “He was testing you out,” Holly said to Carter. “To see if he could trust you. I told you, he’s quite paranoid.”
    “Do you know the combination to the safe?” Carter said. “I’d like to see his research for myself.”
    Holly bit her lip pensively. “I do, but I don’t think I should tell you it. Henry would be furious with me.”
    “Do you want to know who attacked him?”
    “Of course I do.”
    “Then let me see his research. It might point the finger at whoever put him in the hospital.”
    Holly thought for a moment, and then slowly nodded as she came to a decision. “I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll tell you the combination if you’ll drive me to the hospital to see him.”
    Carter smiled. “Deal,” he said.

Chapter Eight
    “Thirty-three clockwise,” Holly said and twisted the dial. “And forty-two counter-clockwise. That’s it.” She turned the combination lock again, felt the tumblers click into place and then turned the handle. “Got it.” She pulled open the safe door and peered inside. The safe was half-full—cream folders stuffed with papers, three leather-bound notebooks, a black leather organizer and a laptop computer.  
    “There’s an awful lot to go through,” she said.
    Carter turned to Annie. “Annie, could you take Holly to the hospital now?”
    “What about you?”
    “I think I’m going to have my work cut out for me going through that lot. I’ll stay here and make a start. Take my car.”
    “No problem,” she said.
    Carter crouched down next to Holly, reached inside the safe for the laptop but recoiled as soon as his fingers brushed against the silver plastic casing. It was hot and his fingers tingled as the skin started to redden. Suddenly smoke spiraled up from the stack of files and the entire contents of the safe burst into flames. Carter swore and pushed Holly to one side, away from the flames. He tried to grab the computer but the heat was too intense. He could only watch helplessly as Norton’s research burned.
    As smoke billowed out of the safe there was a hissing sound behind him. Holly was on her feet and had grabbed a small fire extinguisher from the wall. She was aiming the spray at the flames but missing most of them. Annie tossed a damp cloth across to Carter. “The laptop,” she said. “Get the laptop.”
    After wrapping the cloth around his hand, Carter reached into the safe again, grabbed the computer and pulled it from the inferno. The plastic had softened and buckled slightly. He hoped the damage was only cosmetic.
    It seemed to take an age for the extinguisher to take effect. Eventually the flames guttered and died, but all that was left in their wake was a pile of sodden, smoldering ash. The interior of the boat was filled with choking, acrid smoke. Annie and Holly went round opening windows to let it out and to let in some fresh air.
    When they could breathe easier Annie said, “So what caused that?”
    Carter shrugged. “No idea. But I think it’s clear that one of Henry’s theories has come a little too close to the truth. Someone is trying to silence him and bury—or in this case cremate—the evidence.”
    “Is there anything left?” Holly said.
    Carter peered into the safe. “Very little.” The fire may not have burned for long, but it burned long enough to almost totally destroy everything. “Holly,