Greg waited, wondering how much Stratton recalled, considering how wasted the man had been.

‘I remember,’ Stratton continued. ‘You came to our lockdown party. You were with Marion, I believe. Think it was the kilt that got you an invite.’ He was eyeing Greg, waiting for him to acknowledge the fact that he too had broken the law.

Greg gave a brief nod. ‘I did stop by to check on you, yes. Is it the same group?’

‘If you’re asking if Marion’s with us, the answer, sadly, is no.’ He pulled a ‘sorry’ face. ‘All different women this time, but just as pretty. Only Brian and I were here last time. The other men are business acquaintances.’ He smiled.

Greg changed the subject. ‘The police will want to examine the damage.’

‘It won’t stop us having fun, I can assure you. In fact, it’ll add to it. The wilds of Scotland, restless natives, et cetera.’ He gave a little laugh.

All Greg could think about was the body, but it would be up to the police now to decide if the occupants of the Party House could stay.

Seeing the approach of the patrol car, he turned and, excusing himself, went to speak to Harry.

‘I called in at Beanach,’ Harry said as he climbed out of the car. ‘Met your visitor. Very nice.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Your London trip paid off, then, in more ways than one.’ He glanced from Greg to the Party House and back again.

‘I tried to stop them coming, but they were on the night train. They may want to leave once you’ve taken a look.’

Harry, picking up on the signal between Greg and Colin, said, ‘What’s going on?’

‘Come and see,’ Colin said, looking relieved that Greg was encouraging him to be truthful.

‘So why the tarpaulin?’ Harry said on approach. ‘Too messy for the visitors to see?’

‘Greg told me to cover it,’ Colin said, swiftly passing the buck.

Greg didn’t care. He was too intent on what would happen when the tarpaulin was pulled back.

As Colin removed the stones holding it in place, Greg mustered himself to help pull it off, the image of what he’d viewed last night being slowly revealed.

‘Good thinking on the cover,’ Harry said as the damage together with the abandoned weapons came into view. ‘Hopefully we’ll pick up some fingerprints from all of this.’ He turned to Greg. ‘You were at last night’s meeting, I take it?’

Greg nodded.

‘So you heard the threats Josh Huntly and his gang made?’

‘Josh wasn’t the only angry person in that room,’ Greg told him in an effort to avoid pointing the finger.

Moments crept by as Harry checked out the shattered basin and commented on the smell of urine. When he began to slowly walk the perimeter, Greg nodded at Colin to reveal what he’d found.