Chapter 39

The paramedics headed off to Ninewells Hospital, siren blaring.

‘Go after them,’ Clare said to Janey and Bill. ‘Stick to her like glue.’

Janey headed off after the ambulance, a photo of the pharmacy box on her phone to show the doctors at A&E.

‘Reckon she’ll pull through?’ Chris said.

Clare shook her head. ‘No idea, Chris. She was barely breathing.’

‘Pupils sluggish, too.’ He frowned. ‘Attack of conscience? Or panic, maybe? Realising she’d told Luke everything and he must have come to us?’

Clare’s eyes narrowed. ‘I’m not so sure.’ She tugged at her ear lobe, trying to unblock her ear. ‘Where is Luke? We need to get hold of him.’

Chris took out his phone. ‘I’ll give Jim a call. Get him to put something out on the radio.’

Clare studied the house while Chris made the call.

‘Jim’s on it,’ he said, putting his phone back in his pocket. ‘Seems Luke managed to arrange another hire car. Had it dropped off at the station. Jim’s ringing round hire companies now to get the details.’

‘There’s someone else we need to find,’ Clare said. ‘David Fox.’

‘You reckon he’s done this? Fed Gaby an overdose?’

‘Dunno, Chris. But we have to find him.’

They were walking back to the car now. Gary was on his phone, explaining the location to a locksmith.

‘What now, boss?’ Nita said.

Clare looked back at the cottage. ‘We’d better get in touch with the owners. Can you track them down please, Nita?’ She turned to Chris. ‘And there’s something else doesn’t add up.’

They climbed into the car. Chris went to start it but Clare put a hand out to stop him. ‘Hold on, I need to think. That phone call…’

‘The financial advisor?’

‘Yeah. Russell had discussed his plans to sell the restaurants with her. Seems he wanted to invest the money in two other enterprises.’

‘Which were?’

‘One was a partnership, taking over a small chain of pubs on Glasgow’s south side. Russell planned to be a sleeping partner – put up the money but stay out of running them.’

Chris raised an eyebrow. ‘Pubs, eh?’

‘Uh-huh. Want to guess the other partner?’

‘Not Doug Gerrard?’

‘Yup.’

Chris sat mulling this over. ‘I’m not sure what that means, though.’

‘Nor me. Except…’

‘What?’

‘Well, with Russell dead, that won’t happen now. And I’d very much like to know how Doug Gerrard feels about that.’

‘Pretty pissed off, I’d imagine,’ Chris said. ‘He’ll have to find another backer now. Unless…’

‘Yeah?’

‘Well, if Gaby inherits Russell’s estate she might have wanted to go along with his wishes. Give Doug the money for the pubs.’