‘She did not “steal”. She borrowed.’ Ma raised her chin, dragging ripples with it. ‘Agnes adores those books, she just wants to make sure people can hold a bit of it in their hands. It was her idea to use my ladies and gentlemen, so they’d have something to do, and a bit of spending money to brighten up their old age.’ A tear sparkled in the corner of Ma’s eye. ‘She didn’t even want a cut of the profits. But I insisted: I said to her, I said, “It’s only fair you get your share. We couldn’t do it without you.” We’ve still got her money sitting here. Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if she gives it all to charity.’

Dildo marched back in through the shop’s front door, and out through the rear again.

‘Why can’t more people be like that, Sergeant McRae? Selfless and giving? ’

And psychotic, and delusional, and dangerous. . .

‘How do you get in touch? ’

A smile. ‘We phone her, silly. Everyone has a mobile these days. My Norman calls me on mine all the time, ever since he split up from Marcus. So sad. They made a lovely couple, but it’s Bobbit and Rascal I feel sorry for. . .’

Mobile. Worth a go. ‘What’s her number? ’

‘No one ever thinks of the terriers, do they? ’ Ma slipped on a pair of half-moon spectacles and peered into a thick address book, lips moving as she scanned her finger across the page. ‘Here we are. . .’

Logan copied it down into his notebook. It wasn’t the one Agnes’s parents had given them, so it looked as if Chalmers was right: she’d ditched the old phone and bought herself a brand-new pay-as-you-go. ‘Call her.’

A frown. ‘And say what? That the police are here and they want to speak to her? I don’t think she’ll like that.’

‘Just. . . Call her and tell her you’ve got something from the film company waiting for her. Tell her someone dropped it off, specially for her.’

‘Who? ’

‘I don’t know: someone who wants to remain anonymous? ’

‘Tsk. . .’ Ma shook her head, making everything wobble. ‘For a man, you’re a terrible liar.’