Her mobile vibrated loudly against the table, pulling at the connecting wire. Seeing Mark’s name on the screen, Ava disconnected it and answered.

‘I’ve found something you have to see. ASAP. Can you come down tomorrow?’ he said, his voice sharp.

Ava didn’t hesitate. ‘I’ll catch the first flight,’ she told him, her own exhilaration quelling any misgivings she might have about explaining her sudden departure to Dougie.

19

McNab was trying to recall what Cleverly looked like, and couldn’t. His voice on the phone had rung a bell, mainly by its supercilious tone, but it hadn’t conjured up an image of the man.

Of course, Cleverly might well recognize him, although he had definitely given the impression on the phone that he’d never heard of a DS McNab.

The road out to the airport was quiet, which resulted in him being there well in advance of the Met officer’s expected arrival. That suited McNab, who, having parked, now made for the nearest coffee shop.

His mobile had pinged twice en route, one message from Ollie to say he had some news for him. The other was from Chrissy to say they were heading back to Glasgow from Orkney and that Rhona would be at the post-mortem for the fire victim.

Checking the arrivals board, he noted the Gatwick flight was on approach and would land five minutes late, so he had plenty of time to check in with Ollie before he had to meet Cleverly.

The mobile rang as he was about to do so. He observed the name on the screen with something approaching horror, before pressing the dismiss button.

Agreeing to meet with Mary last night had been a mistake. One he feared he would pay for. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her. He did. And they’d had a good time.

‘That was a fun night,’ she’d declared as she’d headed downstairs to the taxi. ‘We must do it again sometime. No strings attached.’

Her proposal had sounded much like Ellie’s, and last night he’d thought it possible, even pleasurable. Then just before he’d left the station this morning, Janice had asked if he and Ellie would like to come to dinner with her and Paula. He had found himself strangely pleased by the invitation, before realizing that Janice had no idea he and Ellie had split up. Of course he could have made that plain, but he hadn’t, because the thought had immediately entered his head that he might ask Ellie.

After all, she’d only said they should be free agents again. She hadn’t actually ended their relationship. That had been down to him.

‘No hurry,’ Janice had said, when he’d fallen silent. ‘Just let me know when you get a chance to ask her.’ Her smile then had stopped the truth in his throat.