‘I suppose you’re here about Margaret Krukowski,’ Gruskin said. ‘There were two women detectives the other day. I told them everything I knew then.’

‘Sometimes’ – Joe chose his words carefully – ‘it isn’t just about what people know.’ He paused. ‘It can be useful to hear what people think, or guess, or suspect. Usually we wouldn’t encourage idle gossip, but in a case like this, that sort of unconfirmed suspicion can make all the difference.’ He turned in the pew so that he was looking at the priest. ‘Do you understand what I’m saying?’

There was a moment of silence, the background hiss of a tea urn.

‘There was some resentment in the parish because Margaret kept herself to herself,’ Gruskin said at last. ‘It was viewed in some quarters as a kind of snobbishness. She spoke differently from the rest of the congregation and didn’t have the shared experiences. I suspect that people made up their own stories to fill the gaps.’

‘And what sort of stories were those?’

‘There was an implication of a somewhat colourful past.’ Gruskin shifted uneasily. Joe thought the priest had found the stories exciting. Perhaps he’d even encouraged them, or elaborated on them in his imagination when he was alone. There was something very creepy about him. ‘Male friends. You know.’

‘Did Malcolm Kerr ever feature in these tales?’ Joe thought he was even starting to sound like Gruskin now and rephrased the question. ‘Were there rumours that Margaret and Kerr had been lovers?’

Gruskin looked horrified. ‘I’m not sure that the gossip was that specific.’

‘Have you heard rumours about a relationship between Margaret and Kerr?’ Joe was starting to lose patience. He could see why Vera had been so irritated by this man.

‘There were probably rumours about a relationship between Margaret and every man in Mardle.’ The priest was being waspish now. ‘My congregation thought she was stand-offish and proud, because she spoke with an educated accent, read books and refused to get involved with their gossip. They could be cruel.’

‘But specifically about her and Kerr?’

‘Yes, there were those rumours. The relationship was supposed to have caused the breakdown of Margaret’s marriage. I don’t believe it. Margaret still spoke of her ex-husband with great affection.’ Gruskin gave a small smile. ‘Of course that was long before my time here. I would have been a baby. But Mardle people have long memories.’

‘Margaret was seen in Kerr’s car the day before she died,’ Joe said. ‘He took her out to the Haven. Was he in the habit of giving her a lift, do you know?’