Chris looked doubtful but Clare pressed on.

‘We also know the security guard left his post during the evening. His story is he went round the back of the Lodge to have sex with one of the women. So we need to find out who that woman was. Could be she was a diversion to allow someone to climb over the fence, out of sight of the camera.’

‘So the gunman could have come from outside,’ Nita said.

‘Definitely. Unless our minibus driver was involved. Frankly, she doesn’t seem the type.’

‘Does she know who the other women were?’

Clare shook her head. ‘She was pretty vague about it. But she did give us one thing…’ Clare paused to make sure they were all attending then said, ‘she told us she was hired by a woman called Val, or possibly Big Val.’

‘Not Big Val Docherty?’ Bill said.

Clare shrugged. ‘I’ve no idea. It wouldn’t surprise me. Val’s been linked to a lot of criminal activity in the area but we’ve never been able to nail her. We can’t ignore a possible connection so Chris and I will see her today.’ She turned back to the board, scanning the information there, then said, ‘Anything else on the house party?’

Bill raised his hand. ‘Janey and I had a good look into them. Nothing at all to suggest they’d fallen out with Russell. No money worries, none of them suspected of criminal activities.’

‘What about Russell Fox’s will? Did he leave one?’

‘Yep. It all goes to the sister – Gaby.’

Clare sighed. ‘Looks like money isn’t the motive, then. Gaby and Luke both have an alibi for the time of the murder.’ She looked round the room again. ‘Anything else?’

Heads shook and Clare smiled. ‘Okay, thanks for your efforts. Let’s focus on the victim. Word is he was planning to sell his restaurants. We know from the PM he was ill and it’s possible his decision to sell was connected to that. But we can’t assume that’s the case. There could be something else. Money worries, problems with competitors, I don’t know, but let’s find out.’ She glanced at Chris. ‘Have I forgotten anything?’

Before he could reply the door opened. A tall figure stood there, taking in the room and Clare’s heart sank. It was DCI Tony McAvettie.

Clare led Tony through the front office. He stopped briefly at Zoe’s desk. ‘You’re new,’ he said.

‘No, she’s not,’ Clare said, opening the door to her office. ‘Come on.’

He strolled through, glancing back at Zoe. ‘Her hair’s purple,’ he said.

‘And yours is jet black,’ Clare shot back. ‘But we don’t talk about why that is.’

‘Ouch. Someone got out of bed the wrong side this morning.’