‘What, none of it?’

‘Nope. His confession was obtained under duress so it’s inadmissible. Our only hope is he sticks by his story, shoving the blame on Doug Gerrard.’ She held out her hand. ‘Keys, Sergeant. I’m not sure I can face another trip with you at the wheel.’

Chapter 49

It was Jim who reminded Clare she still had Mark Mooney in the interview room. ‘Solicitor’s getting a bit arsey,’ he said. ‘I explained you had an emergency and took them some coffees, but I think she’d like to get away soon.’

‘Okay, thanks Jim.’ She nodded to Chris. ‘Let’s see him now. There’s something else I want to ask.’

Mark Mooney had been slumped in a chair, but he straightened up when Clare and Chris entered. ‘Don’t suppose I can go home?’ he asked.

Clare smiled. ‘Sorry, Mark. I’m afraid we’ll have to remand you in custody.’

His face clouded. ‘But my family.’

‘We’ll send someone round to explain to your wife.’

‘And Gerrard?’

‘He’s on his way here, under police escort. We’ll be interviewing him shortly.’

He nodded at this, seemingly resigned to his fate, and he raised an eyebrow when Clare moved to restart the recording.

She went through the preamble for the tape once more, reminding him he was still under caution. Then she said, ‘Mark, there is one further thing I’d like to ask you.’ Out of the corner of her eye Clare could see Chris watching her but she carried on. ‘I’d like to ask what you did, after you shot Russell Fox.’

He sat thinking for a moment, then he said, ‘I, er, well I went to the top of the stairs. Listened, ye know? Guns, they make a hell of a noise. I wanted to make sure there was nobody about. Then, when I thought it was safe enough I went down the stairs and out of the back door.’

‘And the gun?’

‘There was a black Range Rover, parked just outside. Mr Gerrard – he said if I put the case in the boot of the car he’d see to it.’

‘Was the car unlocked?’

‘Keys on the kitchen table.’

‘Okay. And then?’

He shrugged. ‘Then I let myself out of the security gate and headed back into town.’

Clare told Mark he would now be arrested in connection with the murder of Russell Fox and she left him with Nita to complete the formalities.

‘So, what now?’ Chris asked.

She was prevented from answering by the appearance of Doug Gerrard, accompanied by two uniformed cops from Glasgow. She glanced round and saw Jim at her elbow.

‘Interview room two’s free,’ he said. ‘Want me to set it up?’

Clare smiled. ‘Please. Oh, and see if he wants a solicitor. I’ve a phone call to make.’

Clare’s friend and colleague Jackie Boland was on duty and the call was put straight through.