‘We can check your phone records.’

‘Whatever.’

‘Go on then,’ Chris said.

‘So the message says could I meet a boy in the morning. Collect a package and take it back to Leven. Said there was a hundred quid in it for me.’

‘What was in the package?’ Chris asked.

‘No idea. Message said to wait inside the gates of the museum, off Doubledykes Road. Said the boy would be along about seven.’

Clare sat forward. ‘And?’

‘And nothing. Boy never showed. Hardly saw anyone all night. Finally went back to the bus station about eight and caught the next bus back to Leven.’

‘Did you phone the number?’

He shook his head. ‘Nah. Not worth rattling someb’dy’s cage.’

‘And?’

‘And what? That’s it. Nothing more to tell.’

Clare watched him for a moment, trying to come to a decision. She really didn’t have enough to hold him. Not at the moment. But if he was guilty and she let him go he’d almost certainly disappear. And if the forensics on the cartridge matched him there’d be hell to pay. No, she couldn’t afford to let him go. Better to risk his solicitor kicking up a stink while they waited for Raymond to get back to them.

‘Sorry, Zac. I’m going to arrest you now and you will be detained until we have the forensic detail from the cartridge.’

Zac flung himself back in his chair. ‘Aw, fucksake, Inspector. I’ve telt ye – I didnae do it.’

Clare smiled. ‘Maybe you didn’t, Zac,’ she said. ‘And, if not, then we’ll find out.’ She ended the interview and left the room.

Tony was waiting for them outside. ‘So?’

‘Negative on the gunshot residue but SOCO are looking at what’s probably the empty cartridge from the gun. If they find his DNA or prints on it, we’ll charge him. Meantime, I’m going to detain him overnight.’

‘So the Lodge party can go home?’

Clare frowned. ‘I’d like them to stay at least until we have the forensics back on the cartridge.’

Tony rolled his eyes and turned on his heel, heading back to Clare’s office. Clare saw Zoe smile as he went past but he barely glanced at her. She stared after him then returned to her work, her cheeks pink.

‘Trouble ahead, there,’ Chris said with a nod at Zoe.

‘Yup, looks like it.’

By six o’clock Clare stood the team down. ‘I’ll hand over to the Inspector in Dundee,’ she said. ‘He’ll phone me if anything comes up. Back in sharp tomorrow, though.’