‘Yeah, I heard. Poor bastard. Still, he went out on a high, didn’t he? Great night on the Friday. Standing looking at the sunrise the next morning. He’d have known nothing about it.’

Clare said quickly, ‘What makes you think that?’

There was a flicker in his eyes. Yes, she thought, you’ve slipped up there, mate.

‘Stands to reason, doesn’t it? Bullet like that to the head.’

‘You went up on the treetop walk?’ She watched him carefully. He’s trying to recall what he said, she thought. And he’s not sure.

He put up a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Sorry, can’t remember.’

‘One of your oldest friends is lying, collapsed on an aerial walkway and you can’t remember if you went up or not?’

‘I did then,’ he snapped back. ‘As you say, he was my oldest friend. No wonder I wasn’t thinking clearly when I reported it.’

Clare said, ‘Mr Gerrard, did you conspire to have Russell Fox killed?’

He did a reasonable job of looking shocked. ‘Of course I bloody didn’t!’

‘Did you arrange for a trained sniper to visit the house and shoot Russell from the top storey?’

He gave a short laugh. ‘You guys must be desperate.’

‘Just answer the question,’ Tony said.

Doug rolled his eyes. ‘No, I didn’t. I knew nothing about it until I saw Russell lying dead on the walkway.’

‘You didn’t arrange for a weapon to be concealed in the house prior to your visit?’

‘Nope.’

He wasn’t making it easy for them. She decided to have one last try. ‘Mr Gerrard, you have told us you are not a moneylender. Do you stand by that statement?’

His eyes narrowed and he made no reply.

‘Allow me to refresh your memory,’ Clare said. ‘You recently lent a large sum of money to Luke Gasparini’s media company.’

He hesitated then said, ‘Not quite the same thing.’

Doug’s solicitor glanced at him then said, ‘I think, Inspector, I’d like a private word with my client.’

Clare paused the recording and rose from her chair. ‘As you wish.’

Out in the main office Tony said, ‘He’s certainly not going to cough.’

Clare shook her head. ‘Nope.’ She looked round for Jim. ‘Any sign of Luke Gasparini yet?’

‘Aye, Clare. He’s on his way. Should be here in ten minutes or so.’

‘Get a solicitor for him, please; and I’d like a doctor as well. He’s had quite an ordeal and I want to be absolutely sure he’s fit to be interviewed.’

Doug Gerrard’s solicitor indicated they were ready to continue. Clare restarted the tape and reminded Doug he was still under caution.

‘My client has a formal business arrangement with Mr Gasparini whereby he advanced the production company a sum of money,’ the solicitor said. ‘This is a business loan, reflecting Mr Gerrard’s interest in the arts.’