to do whatever and to be whoever.
And the Confessor waits. And soon enough reckons that means are available to settle whatever score needs settling. The boy's had yet another blowup with his dad. It's an argument that goes nowhere like always and this time the lad's taken all of his climbing equipment from where he's kept it in the past - right alongside Dad's - and he's stowed it in the boot of his car. What does he intend? It's that classic thing: I'll show him, I will. I'll show him what sort of bloke I am. He thinks I'm nothing but a lout but I'll show him. And what better way to do it than with his own sport, which I'll do better than he's ever managed. So that puts his equipment within the grasp of the Confessor and the Confessor sees what we'll call the Way."
At this, Ben Kerne lowered his head. Bea said, -Mr. Kerne, I think this is - "
He said, -No." He raised his head with effort. -More," he said to Jago Reeth.
-The Confessor waits for an opportunity, which presents itself soon enough because the lad's open and easy with his belongings, one of which is his car. This is nothing at all to get into as it's never locked and a quick manoeuver opens the boot and there it all is. Selection is the key.
Perhaps a chock stone or a carabiner. Or a sling. Even the harness will do. All four, perhaps? No, that likely would be - if you'll pardon the expression - overkill. If it's a sling, there's not a problem in the world as it's nylon or whatever and easily cut by shears, a sharp knife, a razor, whatever. If it's something else, things are a bit trickier, as everything else save the rope - and rope seems too bloody obvious a choice, not to mention too noticeable - is metal and a cutting device is going to be necessary. How to find one? Purchase one? No. That would be traceable.
Borrow one? Again, someone's going to recall the borrowing, yes? Use one without the knowledge of the owner? That seems more possible and decidedly more sensible, but where to find one? Friend, associate, acquaintance, employer? Someone whose movements are intimately known because they've been watched just as intimately? Any of those, yes? So the Confessor chooses the moment and the deed is done. One cut does it and afterwards no sign is left behind because, as we've said, the Confessor's no fool and he knows - or she knows, because as we've seen, she is as possible as he when it comes to this - that it's crucial there be no evidence afterwards. And the beauty of it all is that the equipment's been marked with tape by the lad - or even by his father, perhaps - so that it can be distinguished from everyone else's. Because this is what climbers do, you see. They mark their equipment because so often they climb together. It's safer that way, climbing together, you see. And this tells the Confessor that there's little to no chance that anyone other than the lad will use this sling, this carabiner, this harness...whatever it was that was damaged because, of course, I myself don't know. But I've thought about it, and here's what I've come up with. The one thing the Confessor has to take care with is the tape used to identify the equipment. If he - or she, of course - buys more tape, there's a chance the new tape won't match exactly or can be traced back. God knows how, but there's that possibility, so the thing is to keep that tape usable. The Confessor manages this and it's quite a project because that tape is tough, like electrical tape. He - or she, of course, like I said - rewraps it just so and maybe it's not quite as tight as it once was but at least it's the same and will the lad even notice?
Unlikely, and even if he does, what he's likely to do is smooth it down, apply more tape on top, something like that. So once the deed is done and the equipment's replaced, all that's left is waiting. And once what happens, happens - and it is a tragedy, no one doubts that - there's nothing really that can't be explained away."
-There's always something, Mr. Reeth," Bea said.
Jago looked at her in a kindly way. -Fingerprints on