‘Hmm. That might be a bit late for his boxing successes. He’d already had his jaw broken by Denys Lasorenko two years before that, which finished his career.’

‘Aye, well here is the funny one. I’ve looked up the Tickett family on Companies House. Apart from the family construction business, they have another limited company.’

‘Buckingham Pallets Ltd,’ Gillard interjected. ‘I saw the logo on the side of a shipping container.’

‘That’s the one. No results or financials reported since inception,’ she said. ‘Which was March 2018. They’re pretty much up-to-date on the main construction firm.’

‘Rainy, this is really good work. I suppose it’s just possible that Typhoon was spreading his boxing purse around. But I would lean towards the family coming into some money back in 2018.’

‘Well, that’s me until Monday,’ Rainy said, logging off. ‘I take it you’re working the weekend, sir?’

‘Yes, there was a certain inevitability about it. Look, would you come into my office for a minute? Unless you have to hurry away.’

‘Och, what have I done?’

‘Nothing but good, believe me.’

She eased herself to her feet, and tried to smile away the pain it clearly caused her. She followed Gillard into his glass-sided office and he got her to close the door. He was aware that every time he closed his door, every detective in the open-plan office looked up to see who was in trouble or sharing secrets. This afternoon, there was only Carl Hoskins and Rob Townsend, but both glanced up as the door clicked shut.

He offered Rainy a seat and said, ‘Inevitably, I heard what happened last weekend. I want to offer you whatever support that we can—’

‘Sir, I really don’t want a fuss about it, I’m embarrassed.’

From what Claire had relayed, Rainy had been at her flat when the row erupted. She was punched twice by Ross, her ex, and twisted her leg when falling. He had refused to help and walked out.

‘I understand that, but you are an increasingly important member of my team. Yes, increasingly. Your work has been excellent, and I don’t want anything to get in the way of your continued progress.’

‘It’s my boy,’ she said. ‘If I press charges, it will all go public. He’s having trouble enough in that school in Reading because of his accent anyway. I really don’t want to put him through anything else.’

‘I don’t want to interfere, but are there any court limitations on his visiting rights?’

‘He’s entitled to every other weekend, but because of the distance from Glasgow, and the hours he works, it’s only been once every three months. The boy needs his father at least that much. Another thing, there’s a family wedding in September up in Glasgow, and he’ll be there too. I’ve got to keep things calm until then, at least.’