It was before my time, really though I’d picked up vague snatches on TV news programmes; but the legal implications had been such that we’d studied it in detail at university I said I did. She continued, ‘We think Kevin Milne is responsible for the murder of the three men in Edinburgh and we’d like you to take a sabbatical from your practice and lead the prosecution team.’

I said nothing.

I needed to think. If I took this high-profile case I would be doing them a favour and, if I so chose, I would be elevated to the bench. Working for Crown Office was a civic duty. The pay was shit and the only reason for good court lawyers to do it was to become a judge. Agnes Sampson’s request wasn’t unusual. At any one time in Crown Office there was never more than one competent prosecutor–that’s why the one guy had to do all the work. Sometimes, like now, they had no one who could be trusted not to make a right royal fuck-up of a case. Kevin Milne’s second murder trial, if he was indeed the killer, would make worldwide news. ‘Let me think about it for a moment,’ I lied. To be honest, I was fed up defending monsters, and prosecuting a particular monster of the calibre of Kevin Milne appealed to me very much.

‘Okay,’ I said, not sure whether or not I sounded too desperate. ‘I’ll do it.’

‘Good,’ replied Agnes Sampson. ‘Well, he’s in St Leonards and you’ll be pleased to know that this little arrangement was DI Bancho’s idea. I know you two have had your disagreements in the past, but perhaps that’s all behind you now.’

A smile crossed my lips. Duncan Bancho. Well, well, wonders never ceased. ‘Is there anything else I should know?’ I asked.

‘Well, the alleged killer is, of course, known by another name now, in accordance with an English legal judgement…The name he’s living under is Graham Marshall. Dr Graham Marshall.’

Kevin Milne and Graham Marshall were one and the same.

Shit shit shit.

‘I can’t do it,’ I burbled. ‘I can’t do it. I’ve already been instructed by Dr Marshall.’

Agnes Sampson was, for once, lost for words. After what seemed like an eternity she said, ‘He hasn’t been formally charged, only held for questioning. You can’t have seen him yet. Just withdraw from acting, Brodie.’

I had never taken a retainer from a client before. Greed led me into it; an easy way to solve my financial problems. And now I was stuck with it. I knew nothing about the case yet, but if Marshall was Kevin Milne, I couldn’t believe he was innocent.

‘He gave me a retainer.’