‘The police want me here as a representative of the estate until the body is processed and removed. I’m liaising with PC McGowan on this.’

Anger darkened Stratton’s face. He wasn’t used to being thwarted, but it was obvious arguing with the police might be something he wasn’t keen on doing.

Greg wondered at that moment whether the police hadn’t been keen on Stratton’s group taking up residence on what was essentially a crime scene.

‘Sorry, but I think we’ll have to comply with their request,’ Greg said, to rub it in.

‘No matter.’ Stratton shook his head in dismissal. ‘We shall make do with the boy, then. What’s his name again?’

‘Colin.’

‘Well, I do hope he knows what he’s doing.’

‘He does,’ Greg assured him.

‘We’ll be down in thirty minutes. Make sure he’s ready and waiting.’

‘Of course,’ Greg said as an infuriated Stratton turned on his heel and took himself back to the Party House.

Finding Colin still hanging about awaiting instructions, Greg gave him the bad news.

‘You are joking!’ Colin’s expression was so traumatized, Greg considered changing his mind, but didn’t.

‘They’re safer with you. If I have to listen to Stratton’s bloody voice again today, I’m liable to shoot him rather than a stag.’

‘Okay, boss, but you owe me one.’

‘More than one,’ Greg said with a thankful smile.

‘Oh, I almost forgot,’ Colin said. ‘A Detective Snyder has arrived. He’s with Harry in the incident van up at the gate. Harry says he’ll likely want to talk to us about finding the body. You’ll need to tell him I’m out on the hill with the Party House folk.’

So offloading Stratton hadn’t turned out to be such a good idea after all, Greg thought, as he made his way to the entrance. Still, their story was simple enough. Colin had covered the wreckage with a tarpaulin on his orders and called PC McGowan, who, on examining it in closer detail, had spotted the body. If Snyder asked any awkward questions, he would brief Colin in advance of his own interview.

Approaching the open door of the incident van, Greg steeled himself. This discovery of the body was only the initial skirmish, but it would involve lying by omission. Once the murder investigation began, the lies would only get bigger.

He wondered if this Detective Snyder had already made himself acquainted with the previous investigation. Fear gripped him momentarily. Could he remember exactly what he’d said back then?

At that moment Harry emerged from the van, looking pretty serious.

‘Detective Inspector Snyder’s inside. He wants to talk to you about finding the body.’

‘I didn’t find it,’ Greg reminded him. ‘You did.’

‘That’s what he wants to talk to you about.’

Harry stood back for Greg to enter.

Joanne