‘The thing is, some folk think that firing a body destroys all the evidence of who killed the victim.’ He gave a derisory snort of laughter. ‘They’re wrong, of course. In fact, we have evidence of the killer all over that crime scene.’

Willis, having avoided looking at him directly, now shot him a quick glance.

‘We also have the evidence collected from that room. And from the female victim. We know who was in there. Who tied her up. Who raped her.’

Willis’s reaction to each of these statements played out on his face and the scent of fear only grew stronger.

‘As for the handbag. It didn’t belong to the victim. But hey, the killer knew that when they put it beside her. Then there’s the lighter used to ignite the petrol. Someone got careless there too,’ McNab lied. ‘Thing is, that handbag led us places. Essentially to a company specializing in providing psychopaths with their victims. A company you work for. A company that intends for you to take the blame for everything I’ve just described.’ McNab relaxed back in his chair. ‘Unless you decide otherwise.’

Willis’s face twitched and twisted as he tried to gather his thoughts about all of this. Eventually he came to a decision.

‘I didn’t kill the girl or rape her. I rented the room out. That was all.’

‘Who did you rent it to?’ Janice said.

‘Some bloke from the company that does the bare-knuckle fights.’

‘What did he look like?’

He shook his head. ‘I only spoke to him on the phone, but he was from around here. Glasgow,’ he added for emphasis.

McNab glanced at Janice. This was news.

‘So how come your DNA was on the girl?’ Janice said.

His pent-up version of the story came rushing out now. How he’d gone to check on the flat before the storm hit and she was in there tied to the bed. He should have let her go, but thought he’d be in big trouble if he did.

‘You touched her up then left her there to die?’ Janice said.

‘No one had said anything about killing her,’ Willis said.

‘If all that’s true,’ McNab said, standing up, ‘then you might have a way out of a murder charge. If you give us what we need.’

He looked to Janice. ‘Shall we grab a coffee and give Steven here time to consider his next move?’

‘What d’you think?’ McNab said as he waited his turn at the coffee machine.

‘He might be afraid of us, but he’s more afraid of them,’ Janice said. ‘Mark said they were everywhere. Could be he’s right. What about the memory stick Ava gave you?’