Now outside the IT suite, McNab took a deep breath before entering. He was as averse to rooms full of tech as he was to the countryside. Fortunately for him, he wasn’t often required to spend time outside his home city of Glasgow. Avoiding this place was less easy.

He stood for a moment to locate Ollie, then headed over there.

Plonking his offerings on the desk, he gave Ollie a grin, while also noting that the new diet imposed by Maria seemed to be working. Either that or Ollie had increased his physical activity levels since he’d met her. Or maybe both, McNab thought.

Ollie caught the grin, and looked mildly embarrassed, which he often did.

‘Nuts and sugar-free Irn-Bru,’ McNab pointed out. ‘Just what Maria ordered. Things still good between you two?’

Ollie’s eyes behind the glasses took on a shine. Something McNab had only seen previously when Ollie had located some excellent and enlightening piece of information online.

‘Of course,’ he said. ‘Maria says to say hi.’

So I continue to be in the good books, McNab thought. That bodes well for getting info on Baldy.

‘You’re here about the credit cards from the fire?’ Ollie said.

‘I am sent from the boss on precisely that mission.’

‘Well,’ Ollie began, ‘Ms Richardson, owner of the cards, lives at—’

McNab repeated the address given him by Cleverly.

Ollie shot him a look of surprise. ‘Yes . . . how did you know?’

‘Go on,’ McNab urged him.

‘The address is in a very desirable area. She leases the flat. Her bank accounts are healthy. She earns a lot and spends a lot. She also works for, or has a company called, Go Wild, which as far as I can gather, provides extreme adventure holidays.’

‘How extreme?’ McNab said, ears pricking up.

‘Still checking this out, but it definitely involves travelling to difficult locations. Taking part in extreme sports. That sort of thing.’

‘Not cheap, I take it?’

‘Definitely not cheap.’ Ollie’s head bobbed in his enthusiasm.

‘So a short stay in a tenement flat in Govan is unlikely to be included in the itinerary?’

Ollie gave a little laugh. ‘Exactly.’

‘So why was our girl there? Have you found any links to Glasgow?’

‘Not so far,’ Ollie said, sounding apologetic. ‘But I’ve only just started.’

‘Any word on her mobile?’ McNab tried.

‘Trickier . . .’

When Ollie started out on the reasons why this was so, McNab cut him off. ‘Just let me know when you do.’ He sat back in the chair. ‘Now, the photo I sent?’

‘Is he a suspect in the fire case?’ Ollie said.

McNab considered a lie, albeit briefly, then shook his head. ‘I just want to know if he’s been anywhere on our radar.’

‘Okay, but I take it the Go Wild thing has higher priority for now?’