‘This is as close as I can get to the tracker location,’ she said. ‘There are cottages along to the right but it could be in any direction.’

‘Okay,’ Clare said. ‘What kind of car is it?’

‘Vauxhall Insignia. Silver.’

Clare said, ‘Janey, park broadside across the junction. Any cars come along – check the occupants. Anyone from the house party – get me on the radio. Nita, you carry on to the right and I’ll follow. We’ll take the cottages one at a time. Just look for the Insignia. If we don’t find the car we can start checking houses.’

They jumped back into their cars and Janey prepared to move hers across the junction. As Chris pulled out to follow Nita, Clare’s phone began to ring.

‘Inspector Mackay?’ a female voice said.

Clare cleared her throat then said, ‘Yes?’

‘Natasha Lynch from Carloway Money. We keep missing each other.’

At last. Russell Fox’s financial advisor. Clare flicked the speaker on so Chris could hear. Nita was out of her car now, running up the drive of a cottage, hidden behind a hedge.

‘Thanks so much for phoning back,’ Clare said. ‘I’m hoping you can give me some information.’

Nita came running back out of the drive, shaking her head. She jumped into her car and pulled away again.

Natasha Lynch began to explain under GDPR she wasn’t able to give any confidential information, but Clare cut across her.

‘No doubt you saw the news of Mr Fox’s death in the papers.’

‘Yes. Such a shock.’

‘We’re treating it as murder I’m afraid and, in such cases, GDPR doesn’t apply. I realise you may wish to verify this for yourself but we don’t have time for that. We need information urgently.’

‘In that case, Inspector, tell me what you wish to know.’

Clare was trying to think clearly. What was it she wanted to know?

‘Russell’s plans to sell his restaurants,’ Chris said, pulling into the verge once more as Nita jumped out to check a drive on the other side of the road.

Clare began repeating what Chris had said but Natasha cut across her.

‘I heard, thank you. I’m not in the office just now. I’ve been on annual leave. But I’ll tell you what I can recall. Otherwise I can check the file when I’m back in on Monday, if that helps?’