‘You. Being here. You’ve no idea how my spirits lifted when I saw your car.’

‘Even the old Focus?’

‘Even that. Although you really need to do something about it.’

‘It’s a good runner.’

‘Yeah right.’

‘I do like it here, though,’ he said, looking round the room.

Clare lifted her head and turned to face him. ‘You could be here more,’ she said.

He put a hand round the back of her head and began stroking her hair. ‘I could…’

‘Do you want to?’

‘I do…’

‘Why do I sense a but?’

‘Fear, I suppose,’ he said. ‘Fear of failure.’

She pulled herself up and took hold of his hand. ‘What’s to fail, Al?’ she said. ‘We’re paying for the upkeep of two houses and you spend half your time here already. I know it’s not long since your divorce and I do know how much Alison hurt you. But you could give it a go. Keep your house on, rent it out and move your stuff into Daisy Cottage. There’s loads of room here. And if it doesn’t work out – if we drive each other mad – then you give the tenants notice and move back out again.’

He inclined his head. ‘I suppose. I’d hate to spoil this, though. Maybe if we were actually living together, then nights like this wouldn’t be so special.’

‘You’re right,’ Clare said. ‘They wouldn’t. But do you want to spend your life endlessly dating? Don’t you want some permanence? Someone to come home to?’

He smiled. ‘I do, Clare. I’m just afraid.’

She squeezed his hand. ‘Of course. I get that. But remember I’m here for you to be afraid with. We’ll work it out together.’

A bark from Benjy reminded her he was there too. She eased herself up to her feet and stepped into her shoes. ‘I’d better take him for a quick walk.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ he said. ‘We’ll do it together.’

Day 6: Thursday

Chapter 25

‘Any word from SOCO?’ Clare said as she entered the station.

The search of the grounds at Lamond Lodge had finished and Jim was back at the public enquiry desk. ‘Nothing from the Dundee team, Clare,’ he said. ‘But the Edinburgh lab has confirmed Abe McLeod’s prints on the BMW. No sign of Abe himself yet but it’s only a matter of time.’

‘And Zac?’

‘Nothing conclusive. But they’re still going over the car so it may yet come.’

Clare thanked Jim and wandered into the kitchen to put her lunch in the fridge. Sara and Zoe were chatting as they waited for the kettle to boil. Clare’s eye fell on a tub Zoe was holding.

‘More cakes?’

‘Not today, boss. I brought one for the DCI, though. He was asking about the recipe.’

Clare and Sara exchanged glances.