She flashed him a smile. ‘Thanks, Chris. I’m fine. Tell you what, though, let’s get onto Russell Fox’s solicitor. See if he knows anything about Russell’s plans to sell the restaurants. He might have been in hock to someone. And that could be connected to his death.’

While Chris phoned, Clare drove on trying to ignore her headache. She thought there might be a pack of paracetamol in her drawer back at the station. They’d be there in an hour. She gave herself a shake and focused on the road ahead.

‘Solicitor’s out seeing a client,’ Chris said. ‘His secretary said he’d call back in an hour so I gave them your number.’

Clare nodded then said, ‘Okay, then, let’s think. What did we learn today?’

‘I’m not sure, to be honest,’ Chris said. ‘The more I see of Doug Gerrard the less I like. But nothing he told us points to Russell’s murder.’

‘Believe him about wanting to buy Russell’s restaurants?’

Chris considered this. ‘I don’t see why not. You?’

‘I don’t think I believe anything that comes out of that man’s mouth.’ She glanced to her left as they passed Arria, the huge steel mermaid sculpture. It always caught her eye. Then she dragged her thoughts back to the case. ‘What time do you reckon it is in Canada?’

‘I’ve no idea. Why?’

‘Remember David Fox went out there to work.’

‘But that was years before he died,’ Chris said.

‘All the same, we might learn something from them. Speak to the police in Canada. See if they can tell us where he worked.’

Chris took out his phone again. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

The roads were fairly quiet and they managed to reach the station before rush hour. Clare went straight to the kitchen to make herself a mug of tea which she carried to her office. Her drawer was the usual jumble of clutter but she found the paracetamol and swallowed a couple. As she sipped the tea the phone rang. An unfamiliar number.

‘Inspector Mackay?’

‘Yes?’

‘Patrick Meikle, returning your sergeant’s call from earlier.’

Clare remembered. Russell Fox’s solicitor. ‘Thanks so much for calling back, Mr Meikle.’

‘Not at all. Under the circumstances, anything I can to do help.’

Clare thanked him and said she was interested in Russell’s decision to sell his restaurant business. ‘Can you tell me anything about it? Perhaps why he decided to sell and what his future plans were?’

‘I’m afraid not,’ the solicitor said. ‘He spoke to me about it, of course. But I understand it was a decision he made in conjunction with his financial advisor.’ He paused for a moment then said, ‘I have her details here, if it would help.’