He began to absorb the significance of this as the pieces of the jigsaw started fitting together.

‘Cleverly said when he was younger he’d had a girlfriend up here. Came to Glasgow all the time, until she chucked him out. Maybe they had a son together?’

Cleverly, he registered, had come to Glasgow determined to find out everything they had on the fire death; on the victim, on possible suspects. He’d even given old Jimmy a bad time. Accused him of being an unreliable witness when Jimmy mentioned he’d seen a male figure at the entrance to the back court.

He’d thought all that was down to the Met wanting to control anything linked to Go Wild, because it messed with their own investigation. Maybe tonight would prove him wrong.

He rose from the table.

‘Where are you going?’ Rhona said.

‘It’s time to pick up this guy and find out who he is.’

82

‘What took you so long?’ Janice said as he slid in beside her.

‘I needed to speak to Dr MacLeod about Steven Willis. Turns out she’d just had a conversation with Ava. She and Nadia are in London staying with Firash’s family.’

‘God, that’s a relief.’

‘Ava had a lot to say about DI Cleverly in particular.’ He gave his partner a quick summary.

‘You’re saying Cleverly’s bent? But I thought you said Jack Winters vouched for him?’

He told her what Ollie had found on the memory stick Mark had left for him.

‘Mark believed he was going out to meet a police officer. My bet’s on Mark thinking he was meeting an undercover cop, like Winters. That’s why he didn’t reveal a name.’

‘And he met Cleverly instead?’ Janice said.

He nodded. ‘If we’re right, you’re about to meet Cleverly’s son.’

‘It’s almost time,’ Janice said, checking her watch.

‘You ready for this?’

McNab had a sudden fear that he’d put her in danger, when in fact she was the one who’d insisted on it.

‘How do I look?’ she said, trying a red-lipped smile.

McNab couldn’t bear to tell her. ‘Stay safe,’ he said instead.

As she sashayed away from the car, he found himself holding his breath. Why had he agreed to this? Because she volunteered and she’s a police officer.

There were two bouncers on the door to the dive she was heading for. The red light above the entrance illuminated her painted face as she talked her way successfully inside.

A couple of minutes later, her male minders appeared. Seeing the two young cops dressed for a night out clubbing, McNab was reminded of his own age, plus the fact he couldn’t be the one keeping watch on his partner. Something he hated, but as he’d been told, he – unlike a tarted-up Janice – was a well-kent face in Glasgow.