“Why? Come on, Dan, you’ve got to give me some idea of what’s happened.”

Dan pointed at the News of the World on the table. “Patrick Trenchard was the chap Josh and I worked for up in Scotland. He was a great friend of mine.”

“Oh, God. I’m really sorry, Dan, I had no idea.”

“No, you did me a favour. I’m not quite sure why Josh has never rung to tell me. So would you be able to cover for me if I do go AWOL?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll keep in touch just in case there’s any development on the Carswell merger.”

“How long do you reckon you’ll be away?”

“Not long. I promise you that I won’t leave you in the lurch, though.”

As Dan ran back to the house in Haleridge Road, he cursed himself for not having brought his mobile phone with him. He made it there in ten minutes flat. He opened the front door and went straight through to the kitchen and picked up the telephone receiver. He dialed Josh’s mobile number.

“Come on, Josh,” he muttered under his breath. “Answer it, for God’s sake.”

The mobile was redirected to Josh’s voicemail service, and Dan ended the call without leaving a message. Josh must have been out of range, no doubt at the cottage. He thought about ringing the factory, but being a Sunday, the switchboard would probably not be manned. Anyway, the place would more than likely be closed following Patrick’s death.

That left him only one option. Auchnacerie.

For a moment, his hand hovered above the dialing keyboard before he punched in the number. As soon as the call was connected, it was answered by his son.

“Josh?”

“Dad, where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to get in touch with you all morning. Dad, I’ve got some really bad news—”

“I know, Josh. I’ve just read about it in the Sunday papers. When did it happen?”

“Friday night.”

“Why didn’t you contact me?”

“Because I only heard about it last night when I got back from Barcelona.”

“What were you doing there?”

“Patrick sent me and Maria José over on a sales trip.”

“Right.” Even though Dan was eager for information, he still experienced a swell of pride at Josh’s obvious rise in status. “So why are you at Auchnacerie?”

“Maria José and I are looking after Max and Sooty. Katie’s had to go up to Inverness to have a meeting in the coroner’s office. There has to be an enquiry.”

“How are the children?”

“They seem to be bearing up all right. Max is here with me, and Maria José and Sooty have taken the dogs for a walk.”

“Did you see Katie before she left?”

“Yes, I did.”

“How is she taking it?”