When he thought about it that way, it didn’t sound so bad. If Ellie could sleep with other men, then he could sleep with other women. That had been the arrangement.

The trouble was, finding those other women.

McNab permitted his thoughts to turn to Rhona. He wasn’t convinced that her relationship with Sean was monogamous. It hadn’t been at times in the past. In particular, when McNab had risen from the dead after the Russian case.

He allowed himself a brief moment to dwell on that encounter, before returning to the truth, which was, if he had to fight for Ellie, he would gladly do so.

Fifteen minutes later a call came in from Janice.

‘They’ve spotted Karen’s car on the Stirling road. It looks as though she’s heading for home. What d’you want to do?’

McNab knew the one thing he didn’t want to do, which was to head for Stirling himself.

‘Make sure there’s someone at the cottage to see her arrive. We’ll speak with Karen in the morning.’

‘Okay. If you’re sure. How did it go with Mrs Jackson?’

‘Her husband left her, or so she says. Although I’d say she was covering for him. Any more sightings of the guy?’

‘Not that I know of. See you tomorrow. Over and out.’

McNab congratulated himself on his decision not to hang about the Jackson house awaiting the possible arrival of Karen. It looked like she’d done what she planned to do and was on her way home.

He had another thought. What if Karen didn’t head for Rowan Cottage, but instead went back to McCreadie’s place? If Karen was still ill, it might be better if she did go there.

Personally, and from the point of view of the investigation, McNab wasn’t keen on extending McCreadie’s influence any further than had happened already. Also, he didn’t want Karen divulging material to McCreadie until he, McNab, had spoken to her himself.

What if he was right in his earlier thoughts about Karen – or had he been way off target with that? Maybe she wasn’t hiding anything and her story had been exactly how it had happened that day.

He switched his focus on to what he’d intended doing tonight, and, ignoring any road signs that might encourage him to take the Stirling route, he got off the motorway and headed into town.

Shedding his detective persona was the problem, McNab decided, as he joined the mostly leather-clad clientele entering the Rock Cafe. Blending in would have been easier had he come on the Harley, but that hadn’t been possible. He still felt like the polis as he made his way through the crowd and headed for the downstairs bar. Maybe it was the looks he got or maybe because so many regulars in here would know exactly what he was. Either because they’d met him in that life or they knew Ellie was dating a detective.

McNab realized just how awkward at times this might all be for Ellie. She’d always laughed the idea off, insisting that she could date whomsoever she pleased, but still . . . As for him, the only grief he’d got for dating a biker chick was caused by envy from his fellow officers. Which only grew when or if they met Ellie in person.