McNab left the door open so he could hear anything that was said, filled the kettle and switched it on. The wee kitchen was tidy. Fresh milk in the fridge. A packet of Scottish Blend teabags. Even a jar of instant coffee. Better than his place, he noted.

He swithered whether he should make tea or coffee for Janice, then decided tea would be more chummy. He settled for a double spoonful of instant black coffee for himself. In the kitchen the smell was weaker, but until they removed the body, it wouldn’t go away, and even then . . .

He couldn’t see a tray anywhere, so he carried through the teas, then went back for his coffee. By the time he returned, Jimmy had a little more colour in his cheeks.

‘So, Jimmy, had you seen the lassie before last night?’ McNab said.

‘Naw, son. But then I don’t see the folk going up and down the stairs. I sit in here most of the time when I’m not in the kitchen. My bedroom’s at the front, but I keep the curtains shut in there.’

‘You don’t know any of your neighbours?’ Janice tried.

‘The flats up this close change hands a lot. Landlords ship folk in and out again, if they don’t pay. There aren’t any families. Kids used to play out the back all the time. Not any more.’

‘Did you see anyone else out there last night?’ McNab said. ‘Or hear anybody in the close?’

‘You couldn’t hear a damn thing, son, except for that screeching gale. Did you no hear it yersel?’

‘My colleague’s a sound sleeper,’ Janice said.

Jimmy shook his head, apparently finding the idea that anyone could have slept through that racket unbelievable.

At that point Lucifer strode back in and gave them both a menacing look before jumping up onto Jimmy’s knee. As the old man clapped him, the cat arched his back and purred, although he still held them in his evil gaze.

‘We’d better be going.’ Janice nodded at McNab.

They rose together.

Janice took McNab’s mug. ‘I’ll rinse these through, Jimmy. We’ll maybe come back and see you again if that’s okay?’

‘Aye, that’ll be fine,’ Jimmy said. ‘I’ll have to get a new blanket,’ he added, as though he’d just thought of it. ‘This room doesn’t get much sunshine being at the back.’

‘I’ll bring you one,’ McNab found himself saying.

‘Thank you, son. That’s mighty good of you.’

Janice gave him a big-eyed look as the door closed behind them.

‘What?’ McNab said. ‘We can’t bring the old boy a blanket? Plus we’ll need to speak to him again anyway. We haven’t got everything yet.’

‘True enough,’ Janice conceded.

McNab indicated he planned to suit up and look in on Rhona. ‘Are you going to interview anyone else upstairs?’