Mark thought for a moment then said, ‘Something about a van arriving and I was to direct it round the back of the house.’

‘You spoke to the driver?’

‘Aye. She said they were expecting her.’

‘She?’

He nodded. ‘Dark-haired woman. Anyway, I asked her what name she’d been given – Mr Gerrard said they’d ask for him. Otherwise I wasn’t to let anyone in. She said his name, right enough, so I told her where to take the van and let her through the gate.’

Chris shifted forward in his seat. ‘Did she say what was in the van?’

‘Not that I recall.’

‘Try harder, Mark.’

He rose from his seat and went across to the window. He stood for a moment watching the boys bouncing then turned back to face them. ‘It’s like this. Mr Gerrard, well, he said it was all to be kept quiet. Didn’t want anyone knowing all the comings and goings. Papers and that, ye know? So he slipped me a few quid.’ He looked at Chris. ‘When you spoke to me after the lad died, well, I didn’t think it was my place to say anything. I thought they’d tell you themselves.’

Clare said, ‘You didn’t think someone being found dead was a good enough reason to break your promise to Mr Gerrard?’

Mark’s brow furrowed. ‘Yeah, I should have.’ He shook his head. ‘I know that now. But, after he called you lads in – when he found Mr Fox – he phoned me. I was still at home, ye know? Not due back till midday. And he said I’d better get over to the Lodge. Police wanted to speak to me. Then he said not to mention the other van. He’d handle it and tell you lads everything. I was to stick to my story. Just say I didn’t notice anything.’

‘And that didn’t make you suspicious?’ Clare said. ‘You didn’t think lying to officers investigating a murder was maybe a bad idea?’

He met Clare’s eye. ‘Now? For sure. But at the time he made it sound okay. And I didn’t even know he’d been killed – Mr Fox. I thought maybe he’d just had a heart attack. Too much of the partying, ye know? And, well, I thought they probably had enough to deal with. He said it would be easier for the family if we kept it simple.’

Clare considered this. Then she said, ‘Why do you think that was, Mark? Why would he not want the van mentioned?’

Mark shifted in his seat, avoiding Clare’s eye.

Chris said, ‘Was it girls in the van?’

He exhaled. ‘Aye. Pretty sure it was girls.’

‘And did the van leave again?’

‘Yeah. Not long before I knocked off. Back of one, I think.’

Clare nodded. ‘Were there any other callers? Vehicles or on foot? Anyone else at all?’