Hoskins shook his head. ‘I don’t get it. He doesn’t control money, does he? It’s not like he’s a bank manager with access to the safe. He’s not a jeweller, or even the manager of a car dealership with access to expensive vehicles. I don’t have a financial angle on this.’

‘Maybe it was love,’ Rainy said. ‘Not fleeing from anything, but towards something.’

‘Then how do you explain the mad dash against the traffic?’ Gillard asked.

‘Easy. He runs off to join his fancy woman, and finds she’s either got cold feet, or another boyfriend. Maybe a big, brutal, jealous guy.’

Gillard hadn’t considered this, but conceded it was possible. ‘So he was either running from the jealous boyfriend…’

‘…or the wee lassie had dumped him, and he was driving into traffic to end it all.’

‘Clearly a failure even at that,’ Hoskins said. ‘Seeing as he didn’t die in the crash.’

Straight after the meeting Gillard returned to his desk to find DI Claire Mulholland waiting for him. ‘Did you know about Rainy?’ she said, looking around to check that the Glaswegian officer wasn’t in earshot.

‘I noticed she was limping.’

‘Her ex-partner assaulted her, apparently. He’d come down from Glasgow last weekend. Her son witnessed it, and ran away for a day.’

‘She was off on Monday and Tuesday. That must be why.’ Gillard steepled his fingers over his mouth. ‘Does she want to press charges?’

‘No. I only know about it because the boy texted one of my own kids. You recall Ewan stayed at my house for a while last Christmas?’

‘Yes. I knew something was up, but this is worse than I thought. Her ex is a doctor, isn’t he?’

‘That’s right,’ Claire said. ‘A paediatric consultant, would you believe. Has a mighty temper, apparently. He came down to see the boy for a weekend, and it all went pear-shaped. I took Rainy for a coffee and spoke to her about the texts. She broke down and told me all about it.’

As her line manager, Gillard knew he would have to tread delicately. ‘She’s a great member of the team, and I want to do anything I can to ensure she gets the best support. I’d hate to lose her to sick leave, especially now when we’re so short-staffed. What would you suggest, Claire?’

‘She’s really embarrassed, obviously. I wouldn’t say anything to her directly if I was you, but I can pass on your messages of support. If you could just be aware of this if she requests time off.’

‘Of course, thank you.’