‘My decision was purely professional. You know Interpol like no one in the whole of Police Scotland, never mind MIT. If I’d sent anyone else, I’d be answering serious questions as to why I hadn’t chosen you. I need to sit down, actually, could you just stake a step back, so I can pass …’

He shook his head, smiling briefly, reaching out a hand to put on her waist.

‘Feeling faint?’ he asked. ‘You probably shouldn’t even be back at work yet. What did your doctor say?’

‘That’s none of your business,’ she said, the echo of Overbeck ringing in her ears. For a moment, self-loathing overwhelmed her. Tears came. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m tired. It’s all the painkillers.’

‘Let me drive you home,’ he said. ‘I’ve got time before my flight. I could even grab you a takeaway. I bet you haven’t eaten for …’

‘Luc, stop, please,’ she whispered. ‘I can’t do this. Everything’s broken. I killed Astrid. I failed to protect Janet and your friend, Lance, and I wonder if I haven’t been so distracted by everything going on between us that I didn’t miss evidence. Rune Maclure sat right here in my office, asked me out, for Christ’s sake, and I never treated him like a suspect. Not once. I need to get my head straight and I can’t do that with you here.’

‘Ava, don’t …’

‘No. This is the end. I lied for you. I covered for you.’

‘I hadn’t done anything,’ Callanach said quietly.

‘That’s not the point. I broke so many rules. The integrity of the whole investigation was compromised because of the way I felt about you.’

‘How did you feel?’ he asked, taking her face in his free hand.

‘It’s how I feel now that matters,’ Ava replied stiffly. ‘I don’t want you here, Luc. Everything got too messy. I need to be able to get up in the morning knowing I can do my work, do it properly, make good decisions and that I’ll be able to sleep when I get home.’

‘I’m not stopping you from doing any of those things,’ he said.

‘Yes, you are. It’s what you do. To Astrid, Selina, to me …’

‘That’s not fair. I didn’t ask for any of this.’

‘I know,’ she smiled. ‘You don’t even see it coming, do you? There’s just a trail of pathetic women left in your wake.’