James saw the shock on Libby’s face but it was Claire who responded first.

‘Do you think this could have had something to do with Rachel’s death?’ she said, her eyes wide. ‘I don’t know the man personally, but I’ve heard stories about him. Didn’t he get done for beating up his girlfriend and then his wife left him because he was violent towards her?’

James started to answer, but Libby got in first.

‘It doesn’t surprise me that Mark upset someone because he can never keep his grubby hands to himself,’ she said. ‘But I’m not sure he could have killed my sister. He was sitting at the top table with the rest of us from the very start of the meal and before that he spent most of the time close to Greg and me in the Garden Room and on the terrace.’

‘Do you know if he had any feelings for Rachel?’ James asked.

Libby put her mug down on the table between them.

‘He probably fancied her, but then he fancies anyone in a skirt. He’s been like that ever since I’ve known him and it’s true what Claire just said about what he’s done. He has a short fuse and a fierce temper, but me and Rachel have always been safe from his groping hands because he would never dare upset Greg.’

‘But it’s still possible that he made a move on her?’

She shrugged. ‘I suppose so, but I doubt it. It wouldn’t have been worth it to him to risk his relationship with Greg over Rachel.’

‘In at least one of the wedding photos I’ve seen he’s got his arm around Rachel’s waist,’ James said.

‘He put his arm around me as well, Inspector. It’s what people do when they’re posing together at weddings.’

‘Did any aspect of his behaviour yesterday give you cause for concern?’

‘Not that I remember. For once he acted like the perfect gentleman and I suspect Greg had told him not to play up.’

‘I understand that Slade and your husband are close friends.’

‘They are. Greg knows that I don’t much care for the man, but he won’t hear a bad word said about him. And I’m sure that he won’t believe for a minute that Mark killed my sister.’

James fell silent for a moment, unsure whether or not to pursue this line of questioning. Before he’d made up his mind Claire said, ‘I thought it was the boyfriend you suspected of the murder. Isn’t that why you’re looking for him?’

‘He is someone we need to talk to, for obvious reasons, and we’re doing everything we can to find him,’ James said. ‘But in the meantime, we have to explore every other avenue of enquiry.’

Libby suddenly dissolved into tears and covered her face with trembling hands. She continued to sob and shake her head as she spluttered words that were unintelligible.

‘Could you please stop there, Inspector?’ Claire pleaded. ‘This is all too much for her. You can see for yourself that she’s in no condition to answer your questions.’