She shook her head. ‘Not till breakfast time.’

Clare glanced at Chris. ‘I think we’re almost done here, Melanie. Anything you want to ask, Chris?’

He sat forward. ‘Just this. Melanie, was there anything in the minibus – like a case, or a long bag?’

She frowned. ‘What sort of bag?’

‘Like a sports bag but maybe a bit longer.’

She shook her head. ‘Not that I noticed. It was still light when I got into the minibus and I didn’t see anything like that but I can’t be absolutely sure.’

Chris looked at Clare and she nodded.

‘Thanks so much for coming in, Melanie.’ She scraped back her chair and rose. ‘We appreciate your co-operation. And can I suggest you don’t—’

‘Oh don’t worry, Inspector,’ Melanie interrupted. ‘After what happened last weekend, I’ll not be leaving Daniel with a babysitter any time soon. I’m done with those parties.’

‘Good news from the bank,’ Gary said when Clare had shown Melanie out.

‘Tell me?’

‘Zac Buchanan used a cash machine in Market Street on Friday.’

‘Time?’

‘Eight thirty in the evening.’

‘So that places him in the town the night before Russell Fox died. What time was the car stolen?’

‘Hard to say,’ Chris said. ‘Owner got home about six and didn’t go out again until the next day. He discovered it was missing just after nine on Saturday morning.’

‘I don’t get how you can steal a car like that these days,’ Gary said.

‘Keyless,’ Chris said. ‘He’d need an accomplice and a couple of relay devices, one beside the car and one near the house, close to where they think the key fob is. The device outside the house tricks the fob into sending a signal to the other one, which unlocks the car. Once they’re in they can access the car’s computer port and programme a blank fob to work as a key. Takes minutes.’

Gary shook his head. ‘Just as my well my car’s a heap.’

‘Any luck finding Zac?’ Clare asked.

‘Don’t think so,’ Gary said. ‘Leven guys will let us know.’

‘Okay, thanks.’ She turned to Chris. ‘Big Val, then?’

He rolled his eyes. ‘Can’t wait.’

Chapter 19

‘I’ll tell you what,’ Clare said as Chris accelerated up the slip road to join the M90 towards Edinburgh.

‘Yeah?’ He raised a hand in thanks to a lorry driver who’d flashed him out.

‘Steve Christie…’

‘What about him?’

‘He’s the only one who had a woman stay all night.’

‘And?’

‘I’m wondering if he wanted an alibi.’

‘But Melanie says she’d have wakened up if he’d moved,’ Chris said.

‘She might, she might not. He could have slipped something into her drink. Or she might actually sleep more soundly than she thinks.’ She glanced across at Chris. ‘I seem to recall someone falling asleep on night shift, not so long ago.’