‘Oh now, Inspector, I’m not sure that’s relevant. I mean I’m no’ the kiss and tell kind of guy.’

‘In a murder enquiry, Mr Gerrard,’ Clare said, her tone icy, ‘you have no choice. So, I will ask you again, did any of you have sex with these women?’

‘Suppose.’

‘And did money change hands?’

He avoided her eye. ‘Not from me. Can’t speak for the other lads.’

‘Let’s talk about the security guard then. Mark Mooney.’

He still didn’t meet her eye. ‘What about him?’

‘Did you arrange for one of the women to have sex with him?’

‘Me?’ He spread his hands in a gesture of mock innocence. ‘Why would I do that when we’re paying him to man the gate?’

‘I’d say it was so you could later persuade him to keep quiet about the minibus. Did you threaten to tell his wife he’d been with one of the women?’

‘Nope. None of my business what he got up to.’

Clare glanced at Chris. They were getting nowhere. He took the hint.

‘How did you arrange for the women to be there?’ he asked.

‘Cannae remember.’

Chris leaned forward. ‘With respect, sir, even I know that’s bollocks. You don’t just happen to book a busload of women then forget how you managed it.’

He looked at Chris for a moment and Chris held his gaze. Eventually he said, ‘I met a lad in a pub one night. Got chatting, told him we were coming through here for the party. Lad says he knows some girls out this way – girls that like a good time – phone numbers were exchanged, I made a call and that was it. We provided the venue, plenty of food and drink and we had ourselves a party.’

‘The number?’ Clare said.

‘Eh?’

‘The number you called to invite the women to your… party.’

He looked past them, towards the house where the others were waiting. ‘Dunno,’ he said. ‘Don’t think I have it any more.’

‘It’ll be stored on your phone,’ Clare said. ‘Can we see it please?’

‘Deleted. I like to keep the phone tidy, ye know?’

‘We can get it from your phone company.’

A smirk was forming on his face. ‘Knock yourself out, Inspector. I’ve nothing to hide.’ He rose from the bench. ‘That it?’

‘For now.’

He gave a slight nod then ambled off, glancing back at them. ‘Adios.’

They watched him go and, when he was out of earshot, Clare said, ‘I’ll wipe that smirk off his face if it’s the last thing I do, Chris. Mark my words.’

Chapter 12