He shrugged. ‘I wasn’t sure, really. Maybe visit my dad. Tell the staff I was a family friend, that sort of thing.’ His voice was thick, suddenly, and he cleared his throat. ‘I thought, even if he didn’t know me, I’d know him.’ Then he frowned. ‘But then I tried to get hold of Gaby to ask about visiting and she didn’t answer. Look, I’m worried about her. Why’s she in hospital? What’s wrong? Is Luke with her? I don’t have his phone number.’

The solicitor cleared her throat. ‘I do think Mr Fox has the right to know what’s happened to his sister.’

Clare nodded. ‘It’s possible,’ she said, ‘that Gaby’s taken an overdose. We found her unconscious with an empty box of pills beside her.’

David stared. ‘Gaby? An overdose? No. That can’t be right. She… she just wouldn’t.’ He broke off for a moment, then he said, ‘There’s Sacha. Gaby wouldn’t leave her – she just wouldn’t. I know Sacha’s at boarding school and all that, but Gaby loves her so much. She’d never do anything to hurt her.’ He shook his head. ‘Whatever you think, Inspector, it’s not that. Gaby’s just not the type.’

They left him to speak with the solicitor.

‘What do you reckon?’ Chris said.

Clare thought for a moment. ‘He seems genuine enough.’

‘Yeah, I thought so. But who’s telling the truth? David or Luke?’

Clare was frowning. ‘What I don’t get is… if Gaby knew David would be at the Lodge for the Friday night party, why keep it from Luke? After all, if Russell hadn’t died, David would probably have been at the Lodge when Gaby and Luke returned from the wedding. Once the three friends knew about David there would be no reason not to tell him. But Luke said he only found out about David yesterday – at the cottage. So, one of them’s lying. And the only other person who knows the truth is in Ninewells Hospital, having charcoal poured into her.’ She glanced at the desk and saw Jim poring over a sheaf of papers. ‘No news, Jim?’

‘Nothing from the hospital, Clare, and no sign of Luke’s new hire car yet. But I’ve got the reg now and the hire company are checking the tracker. There’s always the chance he’ll ping an ANPR camera, too.’

‘Good work, Jim.’

‘No bother. Oh, I think Nita was looking for you.’

Clare found Nita in the incident room. ‘You wanted me?’

‘Yes, boss. About that cottage, the one at Hazelton, it’s managed by a letting agency but the owner is Doug Gerrard.’

Clare’s expression hardened. ‘Get onto Glasgow for me please, Nita. Baird Street. Tell them I want Doug Gerrard again. And this time I want him brought through here.’

Chapter 41