The younger man shook his head, his quiff bobbing as he moved. ‘Err no, Sam.’
‘Are you sure? It was an open bar. It would be financially beneficial to you if more people were to come and drink all night, run the tab up even more, so to speak.’ Gina watched as he paused to think of a retort.
‘First you come and have a go at me for being in your daughter’s room. She invited me in, believe it or not. Secondly, you think I invite a load of boozers over to a function to run up a bill. I do a good job at events and earn a pretty packet. I wouldn’t do that. I pride myself on the ales I sell. I don’t need a few gatecrashers to boost the coffers. You’re barking up the wrong tree.’
Gina took a tiny step forward. ‘Why do you look so worried then?’
‘It’s you lot. You’re always on my case. Your daughter’s lovely, you know. You should stop letting her down, Detective Inspector.’
Jacob caught her eye and gave a subtle shake of his head. Now wasn’t the time to bite. ‘You weren’t behind the bar all night. In fact, neither of you were. Some of the witness statements say that it looked like you and Robin were shirking off, wandering about and mingling while the woman who was working with you did all the work.’
‘My Cass is a good one,’ Elvis said with a snigger.
Avery nudged him in the stomach with his elbow, reminding Gina of a couple of schoolboys playing the teacher up at the back of class.
‘Okay, we did mingle, but we were around all the time. The most wandering off we did was to go outside for a smoke or the toilet. That’s all.’ A bead of sweat formed at Avery’s hairline.
‘How well did you know Holly Long?’
Samuel Avery rolled his eyes. ‘I only knew her from the pub. She came in a few times with Fran, Kerry and Lilly. Only occasionally. They’re all locals and they’ve virtually grown up in the town. How could I not know them?’
‘Have you ever had any type of relationship or friendship with Holly Long?’
He stared at Gina, a grin spreading across his face. ‘I have never been in a relationship with her, we’ve never shagged and we’ve never spent a meaningful moment together. I barely know any of them. I just know them to look at. I think that’s all I’ve got to say to you unless you’re arresting me?’
‘Should I?’ Gina felt her confrontation hackles rising.
He shrugged. ‘Got anything on me?’
Gina paused, her stare meeting his. This was war and she had lost the second battle to him. First, her daughter, and now, her lack of evidence to place him in or near Holly’s room at the time of her murder. She turned and headed back towards the bar.
‘That was a bit intense, guv.’
‘You’re telling me. We need to speak to the bartender. Double check whether she knows anything about the gatecrashers.’
They approached the bar and waited for the two couples wearing business attire to get their drinks. Gina flashed her identification. ‘We need to talk to you about Saturday night. Could I take your name?’
‘Oh sure, it’s Leslie Benton. What’s this about?’ The girl took a sip of her water and sat on a stool at the end of the bar so that they could talk a little more privately.
‘Have you heard about the murder at Cleevesford Manor?’ Gina sat while Jacob scribbled a few notes down.
‘I saw it on Facebook and gossip is rife around here. It’s all anyone is talking about. In fact, people are looking now.’ She pulled up her balloon sleeves and placed her elbow on the bar.
Gina glanced back. The group in suits pointed towards Gina as they spoke. ‘The wedding reception was invaded by a group of gatecrashers that we have been led to believe came from here. I need the names of everyone who was in on Saturday night and I need to know who left and when.’
‘I can do that,’ the girl replied. ‘I haven’t been working here too long but I do know most of the customers by name. A crowd of them did leave here together on the Saturday night.’
Gina nodded. ‘That’s good. Can you tell me what time that was?’
‘Probably around eight or nine. I don’t have an exact time.’
‘Do you know what instigated them all to leave? Did something happen?’
The girl looked puzzled as she thought back. An orange glow from the bar lighting caught her hair. ‘Yes. It was Phil, someone called Phil, always wears a denim jacket. He said the call had arrived. They whispered for a while. I jokingly asked them what was going on but they didn’t answer. They finished their drinks and left.’
It all made sense. Just as Gina had suspected, a tip-off had come in from someone at the party, telling them all to head over to the manor for free drinks. ‘Did this seem unusual?’
‘Oh definitely. They were hardened drinkers. We normally have to prise them off their seats at the end of the night. Did one of them hurt Holly?’
