‘We’re investigating a very serious offence,’ Rainy said. ‘Have you ever met Kelvin Arrowsmith?’

He rubbed his chin. ‘A few months ago, maybe, when he came down to look at the work we were doing for Aqua Western. And when the body was discovered.’

‘Do you know where he is now?’ she asked.

‘No idea.’

‘Where were you yesterday evening at six o’clock?’

‘At home with my girlfriend.’

‘And the lassie would back up that story, would she?’ Rainy continued.

‘Yes.’

‘So how come your car was spotted close to the home of Mr Arrowsmith at that time?’

‘I lent my car to a friend.’

‘Which friend?’ Gillard said.

‘Just a mate,’ he said.

‘Name?’

‘John Smith.’

‘Address?’

‘Can’t recall.’

‘You’re not even a good liar,’ Gillard said. ‘Isn’t it the truth that you, your father and brother drove over to Mr Arrowsmith’s house and abducted him?’

Aidan shook his head. ‘That’s complete bollocks. Why would I do that?’

At this point Tolliver intervened: ‘That’s a valid question, detective chief inspector, and I hope you’re going to answer it.’

‘Certainly. I suspect you’re involved in some kind of fraud and were expecting him to pay up.’

After Aidan Tickett was taken back to the cells, Gillard got on the phone to his opposite number in Thames Valley Police. The DNA elimination samples taken from Kelvin Arrowsmith’s home were in the process of being compared to samples his forensic teams had taken from the seized BMW and VW found at two Tickett premises. Results were due later in the day.

‘We need those results quickly,’ he told Rainy after he had hung up.

‘Aye. We dinnae have a scrap of incriminating evidence,’ Rainy said. ‘The ANPR is a mile from Arrowsmith’s home. We need much more than that.’

‘Thames Valley Police are combing Arrowsmith’s home for any other DNA, but I’m not holding my breath. This seems to have been well planned.’

‘So is it time to tackle the Typhoon?’ she asked.

‘Yeah, let’s bring him in. I think he might prove the weak link.’ He told Rainy what he had in mind, and she agreed.

They had prepared for a difficult interview with Rory Tickett. Two extra uniformed officers were in the interview room, and two more stationed just outside. As it happened the interviewee was now more morose than furious. To repeated questions about the whereabouts of Arrowsmith he simply answered: ‘No comment.’ He fidgeted constantly, biting his nails, staring around the room or at the ceiling, and fidgeted his legs enough to disturb the tape. Gillard would have stopped him had anything been recorded they felt worth saving. After half an hour, he turned off the tape recorder, and announced the interview was over. Tolliver departed immediately, while the uniforms got ready to escort Rory back to his cell. Gillard indicated for them to wait.