‘Okay, thanks, Mr Ferry. I wonder if I could ask you about Russell, please? You said you were at school together. Is that correct?’

He nodded. ‘Yes, that’s right. All through primary. Then Russell went off to private school and the rest of us to the local secondary. But we still kept in touch. He wasn’t a snob, Russell.’

‘And did you know his brother?’

‘David? Not really. He was a year or two younger than Russell, you see? Just young enough to be annoying to boys of our age. Obviously it was dreadful what happened – the tsunami. Russell was devastated. Mind you…’

‘Yes?’

‘I don’t think he’d seen David for a few years before he died. He said David could be a bit funny.’

Clare frowned. ‘Funny? In what way?’

‘Moody,’ Eamon said. ‘Up one minute, down the next. I tried to suggest to Russell that David should see someone – that it could be a mental health issue. But Russell said that wasn’t David’s way. He was always a bit of a maverick. I suppose that’s why he went off-grid for so many years.’

Clare glanced at Chris. They weren’t learning much they didn’t already know. Were they done here?

Chris leaned forward. ‘Just one last thing, Mr Ferry: what can you tell us about Russell’s decision to sell his restaurants?’

Eamon looked relieved at this. ‘Not much,’ he said. ‘Only that he seemed keen to offload them. We spoke about it, you know?’

‘When was this?’

‘Oh maybe a year ago. It’s hard to be precise but probably the end of last summer.’

‘Did he say why?’

Eamon shook his head. ‘Not exactly. But I got the impression he was finding it all a bit much. Staffing, all the rules and regulations. I think he was looking for something else to do with his money.’

‘What sort of thing?’ Clare said.

‘Not sure. Maybe invest in something. Russell always had ideas.’ He smiled at this. ‘He’d have found something.’

Chapter 33

‘Believe him?’ Chris said as they watched Eamon Ferry make his way down the corridor towards the exit.

‘Nope. I’d say he knows more than he’s letting on, especially about Doug’s connection to Lamond Lodge. But is he implicated in Russell’s murder? Nah. He’s not the type.’

‘I agree. Interesting that Russell was talking about selling his restaurants as far back as last summer.’

Clare nodded. ‘Yep. So it can’t have been anything to do with his illness.’

‘So, who next?’

‘Let’s leave Mr Gerrard to stew a bit longer. Steve Christie next.’

Steve Christie appeared agitated from the minute they entered the room. He watched Clare setting up the tape, drumming his fingers on the table. When she began the interview he burst in. ‘Listen, Inspector, I know how it looks. Me with previous for firearms. But I had nothing to do with this.’