‘Campbell and Neville are the investigating officers,’ Rhona had reminded him.

‘If I’m right and the cases are connected, I need to be there.’

Something she couldn’t argue with.

McNab was propping up the bar when she arrived, Sean alongside. They appeared deep in conversation as she approached, and a little put out when she suddenly appeared.

McNab and Sean were not best pals; in fact, at times they’d been adversaries, even rivals for her affections. Although on more than one occasion they’d also been each other’s supporter.

Which was it this time, Rhona wondered?

It was Sean who spoke first. ‘I’ve been keeping McNab company while he waited for Chrissy’s arrival,’ he said.

‘So you weren’t talking about his battered face?’

‘He was run over by a mad cyclist,’ Sean said with a smile.

‘So he spun you that line too?’ Rhona was taking in the injuries in all their glory, in particular the bruised and skinned knuckles. ‘Did you beat up this mad cyclist?’ she said.

‘Bloody back-lane cobbles did that,’ McNab said, taking a mouthful of his beer.

Sean, obviously keen to get out of what appeared to be a tricky situation, slapped McNab on the back. ‘Next one’s on me, mate.’

‘Great,’ McNab said.

Rhona’s white wine was delivered at that point, which gave McNab an excuse to change the subject.

‘Why’s Chrissy not coming?’

Rhona gave him the mum’s boyfriend story.

He winced as he tried a smile. ‘That makes a change from hearing about Chrissy’s latest conquest.’

Rhona, not one to give up when in dogged pursuit of the truth, said, ‘About girlfriends and boyfriends. How’s the situation with Ellie?’

‘Okay,’ he said breezily. ‘We’ve been invited to Janice and Paula’s for dinner.’

‘And Ellie’s accepted?’

‘We’re waiting on a date to confirm. What?’ McNab said, catching her look.

Realizing she was unlikely to get anything more on the Ellie front, Rhona decided to spring her surprise.

‘Chrissy’s not coming, but Ava Clouston is. She’s having a stopover in Glasgow on her way back to Kirkwall.’ When McNab looked blank, Rhona reminded him of who she was talking about.

‘You invited a journalist here to interrogate us?’

‘I was thinking it might be the other way round,’ Rhona said. ‘She knew about Go Wild and the Orlova connection before we did.’

McNab began to show some interest. ‘So what’s the plan?’

‘We take her somewhere to eat and see what we can find out,’ Rhona said.

‘Without giving anything in return?’

‘Exactly.’

Rhona was on her second packet of crisps to stave off her hunger when the text pinged in, announcing Ava had arrived in Ashton Lane. McNab followed her outside, keeping back a little as agreed.

Rhona recognized the tall figure immediately and went towards her.

‘Ava, you found us.’