Those words had always served as their goodbyes while in the middle of an investigation. Ava couldn’t prevent the feeling of foreboding they had begun to generate.

What if this was their last farewell?

That question had become the reason for their break-up, or – more honestly – her reason for ending their relationship.

Hearing Mark head downstairs, followed by the bang as the front door shut behind him, she felt again that familiar feeling of loss. He wanted her to be safe, yet discussing his safety was never permitted. She stood in the hall, wondering why she hadn’t told Mark of her possible intruder.

What would have been the point, she argued.

She was about to leave shortly for the airport. As to whether she would ever return to London, that was a decision she had yet to make.

26

‘Who was that on the phone?’ Chrissy said, removing her forensic suit.

‘Ava Clouston. She’s in Glasgow tonight and wants to meet up. I suggested she come to the jazz club.’

Chrissy’s face fell like a ton of bricks. ‘Bugger it. I’m heading straight home tonight. Mum’s got a date.’ Before Rhona could ask, Chrissy carried on. ‘His name is Euan and he works for the Scottish Fire Service. I’ve met him. He’s very nice. Although his appearance is about to curb my social life.’

‘I’ll tell you what happens first thing tomorrow,’ Rhona promised.

‘Okay,’ Chrissy said. ‘Or you could call me later?’ She made a begging face.

‘If it’s not too late,’ Rhona said, laughing.

Stuffing her own suit in the bin, she headed for the shower, wondering what the proposed meeting was really about. Ava had intimated that she’d been in London briefly and had been booked to fly back to Kirkwall via Glasgow tonight.

She’d hesitated then, before saying, ‘It’s a tight connection, and it looks as though I might miss it. So I thought it better to book in somewhere in Glasgow and head north in the morning.’

‘Sounds sensible,’ Rhona had said, already suspecting that wasn’t the real reason for the overnight stay. ‘It’ll be nice to see you again.’

Ava had sounded so relieved at this point, Rhona almost asked if everything was okay, but bailed out and gave her directions for the jazz club instead. ‘That’s our hang-out place after work,’ she’d explained.

As she walked towards Ashton Lane, Rhona pondered the real reason for Ava wanting to meet up. Was this to be a fact-finding mission regarding the Orlova case? Ava had shown no desire to interrogate them in Orkney. In fact, she’d been the one giving out the information, leading to Chrissy mentioning the GW insignia aboard the Orlova.

The autopsies on the three victims from the ship were scheduled for tomorrow morning and McNab had called her late in the afternoon, informing her that he planned to attend.