Greg wondered just how much the detective already knew from Harry, and decided to keep it simple.

‘They’re not keen on it since the new owners took over,’ he admitted.

‘PC McGowan said there was trouble at the hall last night, which Mr Webster confirmed. You were there, I believe?’

Greg indicated he had been.

‘Would you like to give me your version of events?’

‘Locals were angry at the Party House opening up again. Global Investment Holdings had folk from London staying there against lockdown rules. One of them brought the new variant of the virus. The one that killed kids. Five children from Blackrig caught it and died.’

Snyder was silent for a while, before he said, ‘It must be difficult for you, seeing as you work for the estate.’

‘I’m also a local born and bred. They know I can’t change things.’

‘Though you might want to?’

When Greg didn’t respond, Snyder said, ‘When was the hot tub installed?’

‘When the new owners took over. Before that there had just been a paved area next to the beach.’

Greg could almost see the timeline being written in Snyder’s head.

‘When Colin called you this morning, what did you do?’

Slightly thrown by the sudden change of direction, Greg had to think for a second before replying. ‘I told him to cover it with a tarpaulin, then call Harry – PC McGowan. I said I’d call our employers.’

‘What was their response?’

‘An answering machine. I left a message about the damage, and the expected visitors.’

Throughout the interview, Greg had been conscious of the detective taking notes. He was wondering whether Colin’s version of events would match his own when Snyder changed tack again.

Looking up, he suddenly said, ‘Were you resident in Blackrig when Ailsa Cummings went missing?’

‘You think it’s Ailsa?’ Greg said, trying to sound shocked.

When Snyder simply repeated the question, Greg said, ‘Yes, I was living in Blackrig when she disappeared.’

‘You knew her personally, then?’

‘It’s not a big village, so yes.’

‘A girlfriend?’

He almost blurted out that she was too young for him, but caught himself in time. ‘I knew Ailsa, that’s all.’

‘Were you DNA tested back then?’

‘All the men in the village gave a DNA sample, me included.’

Snyder nodded. ‘So, who do you think damaged the hot tub?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ Greg said, hoping the lie wasn’t too obvious to such a seasoned detective.

He was spared any more switching of topics by a call to Snyder’s mobile. The detective listened, said ‘right’ and rang off.

Thanking Greg for his help, he then dismissed him, adding, ‘I’ll need to speak to you again. I’ll let you know when.’

He didn’t say that it would be in reference to the murder inquiry and not the damaged hot tub, but then again he didn’t have to.