"Does Adrian Gage strike you as the sort of guy who likes living out in the wilds?" she asked.
Cassie frowned. "Quite the opposite."
"That's what I thought. Everything in the house is very precise."
"Judging by his wardrobe, he's into his designer gear," Cassie said. "I'd say he was more into smart-casual work wear and loafers rather than hiking boots and insect repellent. And his toiletries collection rivals mine. Doesn't seem like the outdoorsy type to me at all."
"This stuff doesn't look very old. I wonder what he's been up to recently?"
"Is that a laptop bag?" Cassie asked.
"Yes. Maybe that will tell us what he's been working on."
"Excuse me."
They both turned to see a constable approaching with a member of the public in tow.
"What can I do for you?" Tamara asked, removing her gloves and gesturing for Cassie to close the boot lid.
"This is Luke McGee," the constable said. "He works here as a caretaker for the windmill accommodation and the site in general. He'd like a word, if that's okay?"
"Of course," Tamara said, smiling warmly at the man and introducing herself and Cassie. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm here most days," McGee said, glancing over his shoulder back towards the windmill. "I take care of the general maintenance, gardening and such like. I know most people who frequent these parts either by name or certainly by face. Bearing in mind what seems to have happened yesterday, I thought I should come forward."
"I'm very pleased you did, Mr McGee," Tamara said, smiling again. The man was nervous, that was clear. He was shifting his weight between his feet and looking almost anywhere but at her. Perhaps he was someone who didn't like eye contact or maybe he was on edge talking to the police. Then again, there'd been a murder on his doorstep and he was understandably rattled. She set aside her cynicism. "Did you see something yesterday?"
"I knew Adrian… to speak to at least. Not well. I mean, we would pass the time of day if we bumped into each other."
"Okay, that's great," Tamara said, trying to encourage him to say whatever was on his mind. "And something from yesterday stuck in your mind?"
Finally, he met her eye, holding her gaze and nodding slowly. Almost immediately he shook his head, evidently uncertain.
"Well either it did or it didn't," she said.
"It did. I mean, I saw someone leaving yesterday."
"Leaving Mr Gage's house?"
"Probably."
The answer was less than convincing.
"Probably?"
"I think so. I mean, I've seen her around before and she isn't one of the residents nor one of those renting the holiday lets."
"And she may have been here to see Mr Gage?"
McGee nodded. "I've seen them talking before."
"What about yesterday specifically?"
"No, I didn't see them together, if that's what you mean."
"Right. And do you know her… either by name or to speak to?" she asked, using his own description.
"No, no I don't. Adrian hasn't been here very long. Less than a year I think."
Tamara thought approaching a year was quite a long time but maybe not in these parts.
"As I say, I've seen her here before. Drives a red Volkswagen. A Golf, I think," he said, his brow furrowing as he thought hard.
"And what time did you see her yesterday?"
"I couldn't tell you when she arrived, but her car was definitely parked here," he said, indicating where they were standing, "at eleven o'clock in the morning when I came into the front yard. I had to weed the raised beds." Tamara looked beyond him to the planters decorating the yard around the windmill site. "I was at it for a couple of hours with a lunch break in between. I saw her leave."
"What time?"
"Around four-ish, I would say. She crossed the yard to walk back to her car."
Tamara looked at Cassie, who was taking notes. She met Tamara's eye and raised an eyebrow. Tamara pursed her lips.
"And did you speak with her at all?"
"No. I acknowledged her, much as I do when anyone walks past me. It's just good manners, isn't it? If someone smiles back then it makes you feel good, even a stranger. It does me, at any rate."
"And did she? Respond?"
McGee chewed on his lower lip. "No. She ignored me. At least I think she ignored me. We made eye contact, but she pretended we didn't."
"And then?"
"Then nothing," McGee said, relaxing. "I shrugged it off and got on with my work. I figured she was having a rotten day. We all have them."
"How was she? Angry, upset?"
"Didn't look pleased. Not angry as such. Flustered, maybe. Yeah, that's a good description. Flustered. She was walking quickly. Her heels were clacking on the ground, scraping like she wasn't walking properly. Does that make sense?"
Tamara inclined her head thoughtfully to one side but didn't answer the question. "But to be clear, you didn't see her coming from Mr Gage's house."
McGee shook his head emphatically.
"Okay, and you've seen her before, so can you describe
