‘He’s in TV as well. He has a production company so we both really need to be there. And we agreed that Sacha, that’s our daughter, we agreed she’d be better staying up in Scotland. Her friends are at the school and it’s really lovely there. Gillian was her housemistress for a couple of years. So, when she asked Sacha to sing at the ceremony and invited us too, well, we could hardly say no, even if I’d rather have been with Russell…’ She tailed off, her eyes bright with tears. ‘I can’t believe he’s gone.’

There was a tap at the door and Chris moved to open it. A young woman in a dark grey dress held a tea tray. Behind her Eamon Ferry stood with another man. Clare glanced at the door and recognised the man from the wedding. Gaby’s husband, Luke Gasparini. Chris took the tea tray and thanked the woman. Eamon and Luke followed him into the room, Luke moving to his wife’s side. He flicked a glance at Clare. ‘Haven’t you people upset her enough already?’ And then he stared. ‘Oh,’ he said, ‘it’s you.’

Clare introduced herself. ‘Gaby was just explaining about the party.’

Luke nodded. ‘Supposed to be a celebration.’

Eamon began handing out slim white mugs of tea. ‘Will you be needing me, Inspector?’

Clare shook her head. ‘Not at the moment, thanks. Maybe in a bit, though.’

He nodded. ‘I’ll be out in the garden. The other two went for a walk and I said I’d meet them there.’

Clare waited until he’d left the room then smiled at Gaby. ‘So you arrived at the Lodge on Thursday? Is that correct?’

Gaby sipped her tea. ‘Yes, that’s right. Thursday afternoon. We had a delicious meal in the evening. Russell’s a good cook, you know. He’d made some curries and we had a few beers.’ She smiled at the memory. ‘It was a lovely night. I’m glad we had that…’

‘And when did you leave for the wedding?’

‘Friday,’ Gaby said. ‘Just after lunchtime. We thought it would be easier than rushing through on the Saturday. And I think the lads had something planned for Russell anyway.’

Clare raised an eyebrow. ‘Any idea what it was?’

Gaby sighed. ‘No. I thought it better not to ask. We did warn them not to damage anything – the deposit’s pretty hefty, you know. But I’ve no idea what they were doing.’

‘Some surprise for Russell,’ Luke said. ‘No doubt the lads will fill you in if you ask.’

Clare wondered about that. Were Gaby and Luke trying to hide something? She couldn’t decide. ‘That’s fine,’ she said. ‘We can ask them.’

‘And then we had the phone call at the wedding.’ Gaby glanced at Clare. ‘You probably remember.’

‘Who called you?’

‘Doug, Doug Gerrard, one of Russell’s friends.’