The lights were still on in the shop, which meant someone was definitely there. Plus there was a bike outside, although it wasn’t Ellie’s Harley. Ellie didn’t always bring her bike, especially if she was planning on going for a drink after work. So the likelihood was that it belonged to a customer.

McNab contemplated going in, on the off-chance. But if Ellie was there, what would he say to her? I’ve changed my mind. If you want to screw someone else, that’s fine by me, as long as you continue to screw me.

Yeah, that would work, he thought grimly.

McNab tried to recall if this was one of the days Ellie had a shift in the Harley shop during the day and worked here in the evening. Surely he should know that at least?

He was suddenly shocked to realize he couldn’t recall Ellie’s regular shift pattern at all. Had he ever really committed it to memory?

At the beginning, Ellie was always at the forefront of his mind, even when he was on a job, but gradually, McNab realized, she had become merely background as the work had taken over again.

Even finding time for sex had become an issue, particularly during the last major investigation. God, no wonder she wanted to have an open relationship. She certainly wasn’t getting what she needed from him.

At that moment in his deliberations, he saw the lights go out, followed by the front door opening and a figure emerging. It was Ellie. His joy at seeing her almost resulted in him calling out her name. Until he saw the bloke. Tall, head shaven, he came out right behind her, and they were chatting and laughing together as she locked up.

He’s just a customer, McNab told himself.

He realized that if Ellie turned, he would be right in her line of sight, so he pretended an interest in his phone.

They were at the bike now. McNab silently urged the bastard to get on the damn thing and ride off into the sunset. Then he would shout over to Ellie, make out he’d come to meet her and ask her to come for a drink with him.

The guy had pulled out a helmet, but instead of putting it on himself, he was handing it to Ellie. From then on things just got worse because he bent over and kissed her.

Ever since Ellie had told him she wanted their relationship to be open, McNab had imagined a number of images of her with some random bloke. They were all bad, but at least they’d been a figment of his imagination. Until now.

McNab turned just enough to get the fucker in view and clicked. Now he had a picture, he could check him out.

First port of call would be Ollie in IT. If the bastard was anywhere on the system, he would find him.