It was pretty obvious, even to him, that he got his main kicks from the job, and the messier it was, the better.

He suspected Dr MacLeod suffered from much the same condition.

His work partner, Janice, not so much. She apparently knew how to balance home life and work, and looked very happy on it.

Plus Sean Maguire was laid-back enough to make a good fit for Rhona, he had to admit that if only to himself.

Jeez, even Ollie had found a match with Maria. Despite the fact she had him on a diet, he still appeared happy.

With that thought, he set off for IT, really as a further displacement activity, but ostensibly to discover if Ollie had anything further of interest to report.

As it turned out, it was a wise move.

Ollie appeared very pleased to see him, which, he thought, wasn’t only about the paper bag he was carrying.

‘I’ve been checking out Joe Hill. A swab taken after he was lifted had no direct match on the database, so our Joe Hill hasn’t as yet been convicted of a crime in Scotland. However, that doesn’t mean he didn’t leave a trail behind him somewhere else. I went back to the gamers on the dark web and located him there, under a pseudonym. From where I pieced together more about him: date of birth, mother’s name Sheila Hill, father not named on the birth certificate. Looks like he went into care at fourteen, when his mother died.’

‘Any obvious relationship with Cleverly?’

‘That I haven’t established yet.’

When McNab looked disappointed, Ollie said, ‘That’ll be down to Dr MacLeod, I think.’

Just then, McNab’s mobile buzzed with his partner’s name on the screen. Indicating his thanks to Ollie, he took himself outside the room to answer the call.

He had started to say he was on his way back when Janice interrupted him. ‘Jimmy Donaldson’s been on the phone asking for you, but fortunately he agreed to talk to your partner, the lassie.’

‘And?’

‘He wants you over there. Seems he’s found what he believes is a piece of evidence.’

‘Did he say what?’

‘No. He wants to reveal that to you.’

‘So you don’t want to come along?’ McNab tried.

‘Have my reports to write. Oh, and remember you promised him a blanket to replace the one he used to put out the fire.’

McNab had a sudden thought. ‘Can you send the mugshots of Joe Hill and Steven Willis through to my phone?’

‘Sure thing. Where do you plan to get the blanket?’ she said sweetly.

McNab had no idea, but didn’t like to expose his inadequacy.

‘Check with the custody suite,’ she offered. ‘I’m sure they can spare you one.’

Suitably supplied with blanket and photos, McNab drew up outside the infamous close where this had all begun.