‘We’re looking for someone who could have tied her up, inflicted the wounds, debased the victim by inserting the knife inside her, who then watched her bleed out that slowly?’ a constable asked, sounding incredulous.

‘Aye, otherwise known as the hunt for another sick fuck,’ Lively chimed in.

Ava had made the decision to bring Lively back onto the Hawksmith case. Once the details hit the press, there was going to be uproar and she needed the most experienced team she could put together.

‘Tripp, do we have a family background?’ Ava asked.

‘Husband deceased, natural causes,’ he read from his notes. ‘Daughter is missing, or so a friend of the victim confirms. Long-term drug addict, who Mrs Hawksmith had spent years trying to reconnect with. We have no idea where the daughter is, or if she’s alive or dead. We’re gathering details on her right now.’

‘Put out a national alert. If the daughter is still alive, she either needs to be informed of her mother’s death or treated as a suspect. We’ll also need her known associates if she’s still involved in the drug scene. It’s possible Fenella Hawksmith was tortured to get money out of her. That would explain the bindings.’

‘There was also an ongoing dispute with neighbours about noise. Apparently, Mrs Hawksmith was in something of a community war, countering constant loud rap music by playing opera.’

‘Unlikely, but check it anyway,’ Ava said. ‘If this was murder, it was perpetrated by someone conscience-free and extremely well prepared. Neighbour disputes don’t usually fit that description. Door-to-doors in her area. I want all of her close friends or associates spoken to. Check her recent communications. And find the daughter as a priority.’

Callanach caught Ava in the corridor.

‘We should talk,’ he said quietly.

‘In your office then,’ she replied, detouring through a doorway.

Callanach closed it behind himself.

‘DI Graham interviewed me this morning. I had to explain that I was with you after I left the nursing home.’ He paused. ‘All night.’

‘We should have seen that coming. Don’t worry about it. We were working on the Berry case. Speaking of which, Ailsa has concluded that was either accident or suicide. He was taking an antidepressant, high levels of it in his blood. Backs up what Rune Maclure said about him being bipolar. Anything else?’

‘I was going to ask what you’re doing tonight. I thought we could both do with a diversion. Is there anything on at the cinema you want to watch?’

‘Actually, I’m going out with Natasha. You must be fed up with me by now. I’ve crashed at yours for the last two nights.’ She ran a hand through her hair. ‘I shouldn’t have stayed last night. I feel bad about it.’

‘Don’t.’