‘Calm down, Nellie. Look, I know you’re upset but we’ve got to pull ourselves together. The family will look after you, don’t worry, but we have to tidy up. You know what I mean, don’t you?’

Nellie nodded. They were stood in the modest living room of her private cottage.

‘The police have to snoop around and ask questions, because Bart was such an important man,’ he said. ‘The fact that Lord Reilly was with him has brought scrutiny. Did Bart mention anything to you about planning a helicopter ride?’ he asked.

Nellie shook her head. ‘It was last minute, typical Bart. He wanted to take Donald sightseeing. I think he thought it was funny that Donald was so scared of the helicopter,’ she said.

‘Jesus. Well, it’s done now. I’m relying on you, Nellie. Don’t let the family down.’

George looked away. The woman’s lack of courage unsettled him. He suspected she might turn out to be a weak link, but his orders were clear. They had to distract the press away from this place. For the sake of the family.

‘I just didn’t expect them to come knocking this quickly. Some expert up on the mountain yesterday has put it into the minds of the investigators that the crash was no accident,’ he said.

‘I saw it on the news, I just don’t believe it,’ Nellie said with indignation.

George went to her and placed his arms on hers. ‘It was just that, Nellie, a terrible, terrible accident, but you know what the press is like. If they get wind of what Bart was doing here with Donald, then it’s all over for all of us and that includes you. Jesus, why did he have to put us in this position?’

‘It was an accident, wasn’t it, George?’ she asked meekly.

‘Of course it bloody well was. And Donald wasn’t even supposed to be on that goddamn helicopter. Why didn’t you stop him?’

‘Me?’ Nellie wailed.

‘Nellie, I didn’t mean to blame you. We’re all just shocked. But why did he get on it with Bart?’

Nellie wiped her eyes and blew her nose. ‘Bart insisted. He gave Donald brandy. You know how he was. Very persuasive,’ she smiled and sniffed. ‘Bart was like an excited boy,’ she snuffled.

‘Well, it’s in the past now, we can’t change it. Look, the investigation will die down. It was an accident. Maybe it was my fault. I should have checked out those pilots myself, but he’d used them before. I don’t know what happened. I’m no expert on these things. The important thing is, this place must be cleaned and tidied for the next time the police come knocking, do you understand? Because they’ll have a warrant next time. We’ll deal with the press.’

Nellie nodded.