Taking a deep breath, he opened the email from his mother, half expecting her to ask for more space and time before he contacted her again. However much he understood why she’d disappeared from his life, the bruise still hurt when he pressed it.

‘Luc, darling,’ he translated. She always wrote to him in French even though she spoke fluent English.

Sorry for the email confusion. Just a mistake. I had an email saying my account was insecure, but I was unable to change the password. I received no emails for a few days, but it seems to be working again now and your email finally reached me this morning.

Callanach sighed, happy to have had an explanation, suddenly ashamed he’d doubted his mother without cause.

I know I should be more forgiving, but the truth is I’m happy that Bruce Jenson is dead. It means I don’t have to think about him any more. Please don’t go looking for Gilroy Western. It will end badly, my darling, and you’ve suffered enough. It was a long time ago and while it’s still sometimes painful, the memories are diminished. Get on with your life. I so enjoyed spending time with you in Paris. Promise you’ll visit me in Monaco soon.

All my love,

Maman

x.

Lively put his face around Callanach’s office door.

‘Got a minute?’ he asked casually.

‘A couple,’ Callanach said. ‘What do you need?’

‘We’ve had a call from the vehicle investigation unit. A car crashed into the cheesemongers on Kerr Street, one fatality. The vehicle was a hire car. Turns out its brakes had been cut. They’re asking us to take over the investigation. I said I’d go down and go over their findings before opening an MIT file. Can you spare me? We’re not making a lot of progress on the Hawksmith case and the forensics from Tantallon Castle won’t be back for a couple more days.’

‘Certainly,’ Callanach said. ‘You cover the car crash, leave Tripp in charge of the Hawksmith investigation and I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a message for Superintendent Overbeck about the new case. She’ll want to know if we’re about to add another murder to our current caseload.’

‘You taking the piss?’ Lively demanded.

Callanach stared at him, confused.

‘What exactly did DCI Turner tell you?’ Lively asked.

‘Sergeant, I have no idea what you’re talking about. What did DCI Turner tell me about what?’

Lively frowned, paused, dug his hands hard into his pockets.

‘Sorry. I might have misunderstood. I’ll get right on it.’

‘Are you sure everything’s all right?’ Callanach checked as Lively made his way to the door.

‘Nothing you’d understand,’ Lively muttered. ‘I’ll check in later.’