Natasha was late, which was usually Ava’s thing. By the time she sashayed into Whighams Wine Cellars on the corner of Hope Street and Charlotte Square, Ava was on her second cocktail and had already ordered food for them both. The rustic chic, bare brickwork and intimate cellar booths made Whighams the perfect place for a first date. It was Natasha’s go-to for seducing new partners, but Ava just wanted the sense of otherworld idyll she got there.

A jazz band produced good enough quality music that Ava had been able close her eyes for a few minutes and lose herself in it. There would be no fights, no bloodshed. No weapon would suddenly appear from a pocket in a moment of drunken idiocy. In Whighams, Ava could pretend to be in any good restaurant in any city in the world. Not that she wanted to be anywhere other than Edinburgh, but sometimes the fantasy was pleasing and right now, a fantasy was the only thing on the cards with her annual leave still three months away.

‘Bloody hell, tell me there’s an explanation so titillating behind what’s happened to your face that I can sell the story to the gutter press for enough money to buy myself a sports car!’ Natasha beamed as she threw herself into Ava’s arms, hugging her then prodding the reducing bump on her forehead.

‘Ow! Could you not? And why are you so late?’ Ava moaned.

‘I was having my legs waxed and the beautician was delayed. Stop changing the subject. Why are you sitting so awkwardly?’ she demanded.

Ava pulled up the trouser leg to display the gash complete with stitches.

‘Oh my imaginary fucking deity,’ Natasha whistled. ‘I thought my legs were hairy. You look like you’ve been living wild for the last five years.’

‘Thanks for that,’ Ava laughed. ‘My boss recently compared me to an extra in a zombie movie. I’m feeling all the love this week.’

A waiter appeared with two tall glasses full of rainbow liquid and ice. Ava took hers and drained half of it before Natasha could gear up with another insult.

‘Seriously, the injuries. Line of duty or something more entertaining?’

Ava sat back, hugging her glass. ‘Officially? Line of duty. But I took a stupid risk, Tash, and I have no idea why. If Luc hadn’t been there, I’d have been mashed potato at the base of Tantallon Castle.’

‘What were you doing out at Tantallon?’ Natasha asked.

‘Looking for evidence at a potential crime scene, which proved not to be, before it disappeared overnight in a storm. It made more sense at the time.’

‘I’d hope so. You went up on the walls in the dark? Have you completely lost your marbles?’

‘Guilty as charged and paying for it. I hope you’re hungry, because I ordered half the menu.’ Ava said, waving at the waiter to order more cocktails.