Excitement charged through Flowers’ body. He had no idea how this new information fitted into the puzzle, but the fact that the feud simmered on was an important piece. ‘So, who would be upset if they found out about you?’

‘I don’t think Dan would be too happy,’ said Ethan.

‘Why’s that?’

‘Our contract for sale is with Temple Developments and we deal with them through our lawyers. Temple deal directly with the council. Cate’s brother has been behind the development from the beginning. We don’t know for sure, but we suspect he might want to buy one of the allotments when the subdivision’s done. I certainly do, it’s a beautiful spot.’

Flowers looked at Cate, but she averted her gaze. We don’t know for sure. One of the allotments? Lewis had specifically told him and Ryder that Cate had grand plans for the house and gardens, including the family cemetery. Despite their two-year relationship, it appeared Cate hadn’t shared the Buchanan family’s plans with her lover.

‘We’re getting closer to the subdivision being approved,’ Ethan was saying, ‘and if Dan found out now that Cate and I had been seeing each other all this time, he’d wonder why I didn’t tell him.’

‘Why didn’t you? Because she’s a Buchanan?’

Ethan nodded. ‘I thought he might suspect us of colluding in some way, especially with Lewis giving the subdivision his support. My father bought the property from Cate’s grandfather before any of us were born. Dad was a bachelor a long time; I don’t think my parents had Dan until Dad was forty-five. But from that point on, the families have never really liked each other. And Dan’s a control freak at the best of times.’

‘Neither of us knew back then how long our relationship would last, Detective,’ Cate said. ‘Ethan’s family had just signed the contract and he was adamant nothing should jeopardise it.’

‘It sounds a bit over the top now,’ Ethan said apologetically, ‘but buyers don’t come along every day, not for properties like ours.’

Flowers nodded, committing everything they’d said to memory. He’d been so surprised to find Ethan Lorrimer in the hut he hadn’t even taken out his notepad. ‘I get that.’

‘I told Detective Ryder I couldn’t remember where I was that night, but I knew exactly where I was,’ Ethan said.

Flowers nodded again. What he’d like to know was exactly which Lorrimer had forged Art’s name on the form agreeing to sell, but he needed to wait for confirmation from the handwriting expert before he could bring that up.

‘Okay, I’ll go back and type up a report for Detective Ryder. I can’t see why the information you’ve given me can’t stay confidential unless it somehow becomes relevant in the case down the track.’

‘Thank you, Detective Flowers,’ Cate said.