‘I’m guessing you use it for more than that,’ Chris said.

Samantha straightened her back. ‘Yeah. So?’

‘Care to tell us what?’

She shrugged. ‘This and that.’

Chris gave Clare a look that said Over to you, boss.

Clare took the hint. ‘Did you use the van last Friday night?’

She hesitated, just enough to alert Clare.

‘Erm, yeah,’ she said. ‘Can’t quite remember what, though. I do a lot of stuff in it.’

Clare smiled. ‘Take your time, Miss Reynolds.’

Samantha glanced at her watch. ‘Look, could this wait?’

‘Sorry, it is urgent.’

She gave an exaggerated sigh. ‘Okay. I gave a few friends a lift. They were going to a party. Happy?’

‘You drove?’

‘Yes, I drove.’

‘Where was the party?’

Samantha suddenly became interested in her manicured fingernails. ‘Can’t really remember now. Some country house.’

‘It was only three days ago,’ Clare said. ‘Try to remember.’

‘Probably put a postcode into the satnav.’ She brightened. ‘Yeah, that’s what I did. I remember now.’

‘So the code will still be in the satnav,’ Chris said. ‘We could go and check the van now.’

‘I probably cleared it. I don’t keep addresses if it’s just a one-off.’

‘I see,’ Clare said. ‘And did you stay at the party? Or return later to collect your friends?’

‘I really can’t remember,’ Samantha said, with barely concealed impatience. ‘Now, if you don’t mind.’

Clare decided she’d had enough of Samantha. ‘Miss Reynolds, I have reason to believe your vehicle may have been involved in a serious crime and, as such, I need you to give me the keys so I can have a Scene of Crime Team go over it for evidence.’

‘Eh? You can’t do that.’

‘I’m afraid I can. So, the keys if you please?’

‘Both sets,’ Chris added.

She stood thinking for a moment then said, ‘Okay. What do you want to know?’

‘If we could perhaps sit down,’ Clare said.

‘Be my guest.’

Clare and Chris sat while Samantha remained standing, one foot tapping on the laminate floor.

‘Can you tell me who was in your van on Friday evening?’ Clare said.

‘Five women,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know their names. Picked them up from Market Street and drove them to a posh house out of town.’

‘Was the house Lamond Lodge?’ Clare asked.

‘Yeah, I think so.’

‘And you didn’t know the women?’

She shook her head. ‘Nope. I was booked to take them to the house. Stick around then take them home about two in the morning.’

‘And did they all return in the minibus?’

Samantha hesitated, just long enough for Clare to know there was something.

‘Save us some time, here, Samantha.’

She shrugged. ‘Oh, what the hell. Four of them did, one stayed.’

‘Sure?’

‘Yep.’

‘You took them home?’

Samantha shook her head. ‘Dropped them in town where I picked them up. Just off Market Street, like I said.’