‘I wouldn’t go into an interview room with you if you paid me,’ he said. ‘I don’t want a dose of whatever you’re carrying.’

She regarded him. ‘You feeling better then?’

‘Aye. Just a dicky tummy. Must have eaten something.’ He glanced at Chris. ‘Keep an eye on her, son. I don’t want her keeling over.’

‘Your concern is touching,’ Clare said, her voice heavy with sarcasm.

‘Pfft, it’s not you I’m concerned about,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘I just don’t fancy filling in the accident report.’

Chris waited until Tony had left then he turned back to Clare. ‘Seriously,’ he said, ‘I can manage this myself. I’ll get Nita or Janey to sit in.’

Clare sniffed. ‘And miss all the fun?’ she said. ‘No chance.’ She rose slowly, trying to keep her head level. ‘Let’s go and prep the interview room.’

Clare had insisted on Luke having legal representation and the duty solicitor arrived just before eleven. She began the interview with the usual caution and Luke indicated he understood.

Then he said, ‘Erm, are you okay, Inspector? You don’t look too well.’

‘Just a cold,’ Clare said, trying to keep her tone brisk. ‘Perhaps I could start by asking where you and Gaby have been since leaving the Brodie Hotel.’

Luke didn’t speak for a moment. Then he said, ‘A cottage. At a place called Hazelton Walls.’

‘Why did you go there?’ Clare asked. ‘I understood you had a booking on the sleeper to London.’

He sighed. ‘Gaby…’ He broke off.

‘Would you like some water?’ Chris asked, and Luke nodded.

Chris left the room for a moment then returned with a plastic cup of water.

Luke took this and sipped. Then he said, ‘When Russell’s friends left the hotel we sat on for a bit. Just the two of us, you know? The first chance we’d had to be properly alone.’ He sipped at the water again then went on. ‘Gaby – she said she wasn’t ready to go back to London. Not straight away.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s pretty full on, down there. And the press – they’d be waiting for us. I knew what she meant. Or I thought I did.’ He glanced at Clare then looked away again. ‘So I suggested we stayed another couple of nights in Scotland. See how we felt after that.’

Chris leaned forward. ‘Why didn’t you just stay on at the Brodie?’

Luke shook his head. ‘I’d had a call from my PA. Reporters on the phone. They named the hotel and asked her to confirm we were staying there. She denied it of course but I knew it wouldn’t be long before they turned up at the door. She suggested this cottage. Said it was in the middle of nowhere, very quiet.’

Clare nodded at this. ‘And how long did you stay there?’