Clare nodded. ‘Detective Inspector Clare Mackay,’ she said, adding, ‘I’m so sorry to trouble you at a time like this. Am I correct in thinking the victim was your brother?’

Gaby’s eyes were brimming. ‘Yes,’ she said, her voice barely audible. ‘Russell was my brother.’

Clare indicated the seat she had risen from. ‘Please do sit down. I don’t want to make this any more difficult for you.’ She turned to Chris. ‘Perhaps you could ask Reception for some tea?’ She smiled back at Gaby. ‘Or coffee?’

Eamon Ferry had been hovering near the door and he looked grateful for the suggestion. ‘I’ll do it.’ He smiled at Gaby. ‘Tea okay for you, doll?’

She nodded and Eamon looked from Clare to Chris.

‘Tea’s great for us, too,’ Clare said. ‘Thank you.’

Gaby resumed her seat and Chris pulled a couple of chairs over.

They sat, then Clare said, ‘I know you’ve already spoken to my colleague here, Miss Fox.’

‘Gaby, please.’

Clare acknowledged this with a smile. Then she said, ‘I hope it won’t distress you too much if I ask you to go through what happened once more?’

She nodded. ‘It’s fine. You have your job to do, Inspector.’

‘Call me Clare.’ She smiled again then said, ‘Maybe you could tell me how you came to be staying in St Andrews?’

Gaby was silent for a moment then she swallowed. ‘It was Russell’s birthday,’ she said. ‘His fortieth, you know? And I thought we’d rent a house, invite his friends, make it a bit of a party.’

‘How many of you are there?’ Clare asked.

‘Just the six. Luke and me, Russell and his three oldest friends. We arrived last Thursday.’

‘For how long?’

‘Supposed to be a week,’ Gaby said. ‘But now…’

Chris cleared his throat. ‘I have everyone’s details.’

Clare gave him a nod then turned back to Gaby. ‘And the wedding?’

She shook her head. ‘I can’t believe I was there when I should have been here. Maybe if I had… I should never have gone.’

‘You said your daughter was taught by Gillian?’ Clare asked.

‘Yes, that’s right. She boards at the school, actually. We’re down in London so much, you see. Me with my TV show and Luke with his work.’

‘What is his line of work?’