Sinead regarded the note she’d been writing for a moment, then nodded. “Aye, I suppose it would be pretty reckless. And the money would’ve been heavy. Too heavy to carry far. They must’ve got in a taxi, or maybe been picked up by someone.”

“Or stayed in the hotel at the station.”

Sinead’s pen jerked, extending the line of a letter on her index card. “What?”

“The hotel. What’s it called? The Royal Highland, is it?” Dave said. “It’s right there in the square. Like, five seconds’ walk from the station entrance.” He shrugged. “They could’ve stayed there. That’s what I’d have done.”

Sinead looked at the board, then down at the card she had just messed up. “Aye,” she said, after some thought. “Aye, that’s… That’s not a bad shout.”

“Want me to give them a ring?” Dave offered. “I’m at a bit of a loose end, anyway, so… I mean, obviously if you’d rather do it yourself…”

“Aye. I mean, no. I mean… would you mind? We’re meant to be interviewing Rufus Boyle in a minute.”

Dave grinned. “Believe me,” he said. “I’m all over it.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Please, call me ‘Mr Boyle.’”

Rufus sat on one side of the interview table, his arms spread wide like Jesus in the painting of the Last Supper, but with a look on his face like he’d just found out he was footing the bill.

Across the table, Sinead summoned the closest thing she could to a smile, given the circumstances, and nodded her understanding.

“Sorry for the informality, Mr Boyle. We appreciate you coming in.”

“I already spoke on the phone to some Aberdonian man. I told him everything.”

“That would be me,” said Hamza.

Rufus blinked, taken aback. “Oh. Yes, I mean… OK.” He looked Hamza up and down. “You’re not what I expected.”

“What did you expect?” the DS asked.

“I don’t know, I just… Not…” Rufus cleared his throat, brought his hands together like he was about to lead them in prayer, then nodded at them both in turn. “Anyway. What was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

“I’m sure you can probably hazard a guess, Mr Boyle.”

“I mean… I’m assuming it’s something to do with the awful business at the house? Mr Sutherland, and his family?”

“That’d be a pretty safe bet,” Hamza confirmed. “You’ve told us twice now, Mr Boyle, that you didn’t visit the house at any point during Mr Sutherland’s stay, and that you didn’t meet the family face to face.”

“That’s correct,” Rufus confirmed. “I didn’t.”

“But you usually do pop in and meet guests in person,” Sinead said. “Just not this time. Why was that?”

Rufus turned to her, his eyes narrowing. “Do I… I know you, don’t I? You’re local, aren’t you? Sharon? Chantelle?”

“Sinead.”