‘Is this it?’ Gillard asked, holding up the sheaf of papers. ‘Vacant for three years from Timpson’s departure?’

‘Well, it wasn’t always empty. Rory stayed here for a couple of months—’

‘Rory Tickett, the boxer?’

‘Yes. Soon after he lost his big fight. He had a nervous breakdown, and fell out with his family. He came here for a few weeks to hide from the press.’

‘That would be 2016. But there’s no record of it,’ Gillard said.

‘No. I suppose he paid in… cash,’ she whispered, holding her head in mock horror as if Gillard worked for the tax authorities.

‘Any others?’

‘There was a foreign guy who worked behind the bar at the Anvil for a while, he stayed for most of one summer, and there were occasional stays by contractors.’

‘All these cash in hand?’ Gillard said, looking in vain for any records. ‘Who were the contractors? Were there any from the water company?’

Rowena stared at him. ‘Possibly, there were loads of them down here for months. You’d have to ask Mum. I’ve only been looking after the paperwork for six months. I am only sixteen.’

‘We’ve been trying to ask her, Rowena, but she seems determined to avoid me.’

The girl shrugged. ‘We Willow women are very independent, you know.’

‘So it seems. Including you, living on your own?’

‘Yes. It’s not hard. Vicky’s up the road if I need anything.’

‘Where exactly is your mother staying?’

‘I don’t know. She doesn’t tell me. I think she’s been moving about in her camper van.’

‘She’s been gone for six months, but caravan parks only reopened two weeks ago. So where was she staying in the interim?’

‘No idea.’

‘Is Ozzy Blanchard with her?’

Rowena shrugged, and gathered together the papers.

‘Young lady, we are investigating a crime. As you know, a man is dead, buried down by the river, and perhaps killed in the house that your sister owns. Withholding evidence is a very serious offence. I’d like you to think very carefully. We will find your mother eventually, and you’ll all be in much more trouble if you don’t tell me what you know.’

Rowena narrowed her eyes. ‘I’ll tell you something I do know. Matt is innocent. He wouldn’t harm a fly!’

‘He’s got a serious criminal record. In 2002 he beat a member of a rival drug gang with a crowbar badly enough to put him in a wheelchair for life.’

‘He was different then! If you found something in that cottage, it isn’t from him.’ There were tears of anger in her eyes.

‘Then from who?’

‘Rory,’ she whispered. ‘It was probably him. He’s a thug, and everyone is scared of him.’

‘Do you have any direct evidence of this?’

‘No. I just heard rumours.’

‘Do know who the victim is?’

She shook her head.