Page 80 of A Game of Lies

‘Don’t even think about filming me,’ Ffion says. ‘You’ve done enough damage – half the country’s news agencies are camped outside Carreg Plas.’

‘Really?’ Zee’s eyes light up.

Ffion takes a step forward. She rests her hands on her knees so her face is inches from Zee’s. ‘This is your final warning. If you Tweet, Facebook, Snapchat, blog or YouTube one iota of this murder investigation, I’ll arrest you for interfering with the course of justice.’

‘How about TikTok?’ Zee takes in Ffion’s furious face. ‘Okay, no TikTok. Or any of the others. Got it.’

‘Yesterday, you suggested the security guard took too long doing his perimeter checks. What did you mean by it?’

‘Just that. He walks round three times a day, but the second time takes longer than the first. I reckon he’s been talking to one of the contestants.’

‘Any idea which one?’

‘Sorry. He went into camp one night, too. I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a walk. It was like, two in the morning? I walked past Dario’s caravan. The light was on, so I peeked through the window, but the van was empty. I thoughtwhat’s he up to, then?so I went looking.’

‘And?’

‘I saw him unlock the gate to camp and go inside. I waited, but he was ages and I was freezing, so I went back to bed.’

‘What night was this?’

Zee’s head bobs about as she thinks. ‘The night Jason was exposed. Oh, my God, I was so shocked – imagine marrying someone, then discovering they were—’

‘Wednesday,’ Ffion says, thinking back. Which means Dario snuck into camp in the early hours of Thursday morning. Two o’clock on Thursday morning, to be precise; just when the camp cameras were smashed.

‘Is it significant?’ Zee’s eyes light up. ‘If you issue a statement, will you mention my YouTube channel?’

‘No.’

‘How about if I said I’d remembered something about the man I saw Ceri talking to yesterday?’ Zee gives a sly grin.

‘How about you just tell me, and I don’t nick you for withholding evidence?’

Zee stares at her for a second, then clearly decides Ffion’s not joking. ‘He was wearing a dark green beanie.’

‘Dark green? Are you sure?’

Zee nods.

‘Anything else?’

‘No. I just remembered the hat.’

Ffion whistles for Dave.

‘Do you need to know anything else?’ Zee says. ‘Because I’ve got a theory about Pam Butler. I reckon she’s stronger than she—’

‘Thanks.’ Ffion’s already walking away, her head buzzing. Loads of people must have green beanies, she thinks. It doesn’t mean anything.

Huw is waiting for her by the fire pit, an array of tools laid out beside his backpack. ‘I thought you’d want me to wait.’ He indicates the metal box, padlocked to the tree trunk by the fire. He’s wearing his search-and-rescue jacket, and on his head is a dark green beanie.

‘Thanks.’ Ffion lets her gaze move over him, knowing it makes Huw uncomfortable. ‘You been to the camp before?’

‘Just for the search,’ Huw says easily.

‘You haven’t been lurking around the fence, then, trying to speak to the contestants?’

‘You what?’ Huw laughs.

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