Clare smiled. ‘Of course. And what was the reason for the loan?’

Doug shrugged. ‘Dunno. Luke was having cash-flow problems. I suggested I could help out, short-term. All open and above board.’

‘And how did Mr Gasparini propose to resolve his cash-flow problems?’ Clare asked.

‘You’d have to ask him that.’

‘So, if there’s nothing else?’ The solicitor replaced the cap on his fountain pen and looked from Clare to Tony.

A smirk began forming on Doug Gerrard’s face and he sat forward in his chair. ‘So how’s about a lift back to Glasgow then?’

Tony seemed ready to speak but Clare cut across him. ‘Douglas Gerrard, I am arresting you under Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Scotland Act 2016 for conspiracy to commit murder…’

Tony began walking back to Clare’s office. ‘I hope you’ve done the right thing, arresting him.’

‘No option, Tony. He was going to walk.’

‘Clock’s ticking now, though. And if this Luke guy changes his story, we might struggle to make the charges stick.’

‘I know,’ Clare said. ‘We’ll just have to hope he doesn’t.’

Chapter 51

‘Gaby’s being released from hospital,’ Chris said. ‘Should be out in the next hour.’

Clare nodded. ‘She’d better have a police escort, an unmarked car. No point in attracting any more press attention. Ask her to go to a hotel, please. Not the one she stayed at before, though. Try the Kenlybank.’

‘Will do. Oh, and Luke’s arrived. Doc’s with him now.’

‘Solicitor?’

‘Yeah. Just waiting for the doc to give us the okay.’

‘Great,’ Clare said. ‘Fingers crossed he’s fit to be interviewed. And, if he coughs, we can charge Doug Gerrard.’

‘Reckon he will?’ Tony asked.

Chris shook his head. ‘Impossible to say.’

Clare nodded. ‘I agree. He was put through hell by David Fox. There’s no way of knowing what he’ll say.’

Tony rose. ‘Only one way to find out.’

The doctor pronounced Luke fit to be interviewed and they left him to consult with his solicitor. Twenty minutes later the three of them crammed into the interview room and sat opposite a clearly nervous Luke and his solicitor. Clare’s eye was drawn to a small plaster on his neck where the knife had nicked it, but he seemed otherwise unharmed.

‘Before we begin,’ the solicitor said, ‘Mr Gasparini was the subject of a terrifying attempt on his life. We’d like to be assured the culprit will face the appropriate charges.’

Clare smiled. ‘Rest assured, the person concerned is in custody and charges will follow. And, if Mr Gasparini feels unwell at any time, please let us know and we’ll suspend the interview.’

‘In that case, Mr Gasparini will be happy to co-operate.’

‘Actually,’ Luke broke in, ‘I’d like to explain.’