‘Home, you,’ he told her. ‘I’ll sort out the charges.’

Clare pushed herself out of the chair. She had to admit she felt weary. Clearly whatever virus had assailed her was still in her system. ‘Must be a novelty for you,’ she said to Tony, ‘working late.’

‘Don’t push it, Inspector.’

Chapter 52

A delicious aroma reached Clare’s nostrils when she pushed open the door of Daisy Cottage. Her sinuses must be unblocked.

‘I can smell again,’ she said, falling into the DCI’s arms.

He held her there for a moment then took her hand and led her through to the sitting room where her dining table was laid for two. ‘Hungry?’

She pulled out a chair and sat down, kicking off her shoes. ‘Surprisingly, yes. What is it?’

‘Veg goulash. Rice or pasta?’

‘Ooh rice, please. Benjy likes leftover rice.’

At the sound of his name Benjy trotted over and put his head on her lap. Clare ruffled his ears and he responded by licking her hand.

Over dinner, most of which Clare managed to eat, she told the DCI about the case. ‘We’ve got them all in custody. I’m just not sure if the charges will stick.’

He helped himself to more goulash. ‘Sometimes it’s like that, Clare. You do your best, hand it over to the Fiscal and it’s out of your hands from there.’

She nodded. ‘Yeah, I know. It just doesn’t sit easy. There’s Mark Mooney, driven to shoot someone dead to protect his family.’

‘So he says.’

‘Yes, I know.’ She put down her fork, her appetite sated. ‘But I do believe him. And he’ll serve the heaviest sentence of them all. It just seems unfair.’ She pushed her plate away. ‘He has such a lovely family, you know? Two smashing wee boys.’

‘Clare.’

‘Yeah, I know. Leave it at the station door. But sometimes…’

He smiled and took her hand across the table and she thought she’d never tire of his eyes. So piercingly blue.

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Over to the sofa and I’ll give you a shoulder massage.’

As he teased out the knots in her shoulder she asked about his day.

‘Interesting.’

‘Oh?’

She swung her legs off the sofa and turned to face him. She caught a hint of his cologne, now so familiar and comforting. ‘In what way?’

‘I’ve been asked to apply for a promotion. Well, I say promotion, more of a sideways move. But a good one.’