He’d contemplated a lie, but there was something in the way she’d looked at him. Their past was fraught enough, with him mostly the cause. So he’d decided to tell her the truth.

‘The club’s in debt.’

‘It’s not anything to do with drugs again?’ she’d immediately asked.

Sean had been closed down once before because of drugs found on the premises. It had been a rough time for all of them.

‘It’s not that,’ he’d told her.

She hadn’t looked totally convinced, so he’d added, ‘I would tell you if it was.’

And she’d believed him. He could see that in her eyes. Not for the first time, he thought that she was with the wrong man. That it should be him.

Until that wee voice of truth reminded him that he’d screwed up once with her and wouldn’t be allowed a retry.

Taking another glance upwards, he made up his mind. He would do as Rhona had suggested. He would try to talk to Ellie. ‘She just might give you the sympathy vote for that face,’ she’d said.

McNab had smiled then, knowing he needed all the help he could get.

When they’d left the Indian restaurant, he’d made for the main road, whereas Rhona had gone back to the jazz club. He’d turned at the corner to watch her re-enter, knowing what she was planning. He’d found himself wishing her luck, at the same time as wishing it were him she was going back to.

The main door to the tenement was unlatched, which meant someone had either lost or forgotten their key again. Ellie was always unfazed by the front door being left open. It was something McNab had often lectured her on, much to her irritation.

Remembering that caused him to recall other warnings he’d dished out, usually citing being a police officer as a valid reason.

No wonder she wanted time off from me, he thought.

Despite being able to enter, he rang the buzzer anyway. A few seconds later, he heard her pick up.

‘Ellie. It’s Michael.’

‘I know. I saw you from the window.’

Silence.

‘Can I come up? I need to speak to you.’

She must have known that the main door was already open. Was it an advantage that he hadn’t appeared unannounced? Or might Ellie think he was just making a point again?

When he hit the landing, she was waiting for him. As soon as he was in full view, her hand jumped to her mouth in shock at his battered face. McNab had had a quick survey of it in the Gents prior to leaving the restaurant, and even he’d been taken aback by the swelling mosaic of colours.

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘It’s not as bad as it looks.’

‘My God. What happened?’ She was about to reach out to him, then didn’t.