‘Okay.’ Clare glanced at her watch. She’d like to have spoken to the three men about the minibus but SOCO would be back at the Lodge now, going over those upstairs rooms. Better to wait until they knew where the shot had come from. She still had Benjy to pick up from her neighbour Moira, and Chris and Sara looked done in. ‘I think we’ll call it a night, guys,’ she said. ‘I’ll check with Jim to make sure everything’s secure up at the Lodge. Back in for a briefing at eight tomorrow. Pass the word round.’

‘Want a lift back?’ Chris said.

‘Please.’

Chris drove while Clare called Moira. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘I know I said I’d be back early afternoon.’

‘Oh Clare, don’t worry,’ Moira said. ‘I heard there was a death out at Lamond Lodge so I assumed you’d be busy. Why don’t I keep Benjy overnight and walk him for you tomorrow? Then I’ll drop him back late afternoon.’

Clare thanked Moira and ended the call. As she neared Daisy Cottage she saw a lamp was on in the hall but the rest of the house was in darkness. DCI Gibson’s car was missing too. He must have gone back to his own house in Aberdour, in the south of Fife. Not surprising, really. He had a conference coming up so he’d have to pack for that. All the same, she’d liked to have had him waiting in the cottage, maybe with some food, a glass of wine. Run her a bath, even.

She climbed out of Chris’s car and thanked him for the lift. It was odd putting her key in the door and not hearing Benjy bark. But she was tired now and glad she wouldn’t have to do his evening walk. She closed the door and saw her overnight bag standing in the hall. In the kitchen a portion of homemade curry stood defrosting next to the microwave. A wine bottle was on the kitchen table, corkscrew beside it, a Post-it note on the neck. She peeled it off and read,

Hope you’re not too late home.

You deserve a glass of this.

Enjoy.

Love A x

She lifted the note and kissed it softly. Then she began to peel the foil capsule off the cork.

Day 3: Monday

Chapter 9