She stood and padded her way across to the door. ‘Of course, we could start with some light spanking, if you’re not ready for the heavy stuff yet.’

‘Agnes Garfield didn’t necklace Roy Forman, you did.’

‘Little old me? ’ She bit her bottom lip. ‘Now that would deserve a sound thrashing. That’s what you Brits call it, right? ’

‘You were there on Friday, with Nichole Fyfe, when he went missing. What did you do: slip him a bottle of supermarket whisky so he’d go with you? So you’d know how it felt to do that to someone? ’

A laugh. ‘Seriously? ’

‘This is a joke to you? ’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘Better believe my art is not a joke.’

‘You burned a man to death so you could play a part in a film.’

Morgan took a step back from the door. ‘I didn’t do anything of the kind. I didn’t hurt anyone. Yes, I was at the soup kitchen, but I was with Nichole the whole time, helping the homeless. And you can’t prove a damn thing.’

‘Oh believe me, we’ll—’

‘I did three seasons on CSI New Orleans, do you really think I wouldn’t know how to clean a crime scene? ’ A little shrug, then the smile was back. ‘You know, if I’d done this terrible thing.’

He stared at her.

‘You’ve got nothing, Inspector. If you had something: you’d be charging me.’ She spun around on one foot, as if she was on a dance floor. Then settled back onto the mattress, one knee up, an arm behind her head. ‘Now, be a good cop and take a hike. I’ve got atmosphere to soak up.’

Chapter 51

51

Insch paced up and down outside FHQ in the rain, grumbling into a mobile phone, an umbrella thrumming over his shiny bald head.

Logan turned up his collar and hurried out through the automatic doors from reception, hopping his way between the puddles. He stopped just short of Insch. ‘You knew, didn’t you.’ It wasn’t a question.

Insch curled his lip, the sagging skin on his neck stretching like a tortoise. ‘I’ll call you back.’ He stuck the phone in his pocket. ‘So you finally deign to speak to me.’

‘Why didn’t you say anything? ’

‘You’ll be happy to know, I’ve been speaking to Ma Stewart. We’re making her the authorized supplier for authentic Witchfire merchandise. It’s high quality, it’s locally produced, and it helps support Aberdeen’s elderly community.’

‘Morgan Mitchell.’

‘I have . . . spoken with the person she’s alleged to have assaulted. Turns out it was all a misunderstanding. He slipped and fell. Banged his head. And when she helped him up, he confused the order of events. He’s apologized and withdrawn the charges.’

Logan stared at him. ‘What about Roy Forman? ’