‘Didn’t give her much option. I said it was my way or not at all. So she agreed. Said she’d get Russ and his pals there on the Thursday and she’d tell them there was a surprise but no more than that.’

‘Did you stay at the Lodge?’

‘Only the Friday night – after the party, ye know? They don’t like you coming into the shelter the worse for drink, and I’d had a few.’

Chris said, ‘Mr Fox, why did you stay at the shelter? I’m sure Gaby would have sorted something out for you.’

‘Why not? I am homeless, after all. And they’re a good bunch of lads. I did some work in the town, earned a few bob for them. I like to give a bit back when I can.’

‘You had your own room,’ Clare said.

‘Yeah. I told Gaby where I’d be staying and she sent me some cash care of the warden. Padded envelope. Meant I had a bit of privacy.’ He smiled. ‘Nice, after years on the road.’

Clare nodded at this. She felt she was starting to understand David Fox. ‘I’d like you to tell us about the party now. On Friday night at the Lodge. Could you start by telling us when you arrived?’

‘I turned up about four in the afternoon,’ he said. ‘Gaby and Luke had already gone to their wedding but I told her I’d see them when they got back on the Sunday. Obviously, that didn’t happen.’

‘And how did your brother react?’ Clare asked.

He smiled at the memory. ‘Shuda seen his face. It was a picture.’ He looked at Clare. ‘I don’t mind admitting, we both shed a few tears.’ He smiled again at this then went on. ‘And I’d taken my guitar along so I gave them a couple of songs.’ He stopped for a moment, as if recalling. ‘It was a good night.’

‘You did have a guitar, then?’ Clare said.

He looked surprised. ‘Yeah. Any reason I shouldn’t?’

‘No reason. Just curious.’ Clare’s throat was becoming dry and she cleared it. ‘It’s odd,’ she went on. ‘No one at the Lodge mentioned you when we spoke to them.’

He nodded. ‘That’s down to me. I asked them not to say anything. And then one of the other lads let slip they’d arranged for some women to make the party go with a swing.’ His face darkened. ‘I wasn’t down for that kind of thing. I don’t hold with using women for sex. Saw enough of that on my travels.’ He shook his head. ‘And, like I said, I wasn’t sure how long I’d stick around and I didn’t want any of the women asking about me. So, I helped myself to some of the food and drink and went off to my room.’