The couple had been there to fight one another, Rhona thought, even to inflict real damage. Hence the small stabbings on the legs and elsewhere. Probably for sexual satisfaction. If so, the female had inflicted, or been encouraged to inflict, the most damage.

If they were on the Orlova to play such games, why had they died by another’s hand?

Someone offered more money to kill them, was her immediate thought. Or were they killed as a warning to someone?

All of which got them no nearer to finding out who the dead were, or their killer. Only unravelling Go Wild would do that.

Before leaving, she confirmed with Dr Sissons that they would need to do a comparison between the pool of vomit found at the scene and the stomach contents of the deceased.

Once washed and changed, she called Chrissy and told her how it had gone.

‘You sound knackered,’ Chrissy said sympathetically. ‘Still, you were right about both scenes.’

‘But no closer to discovering the identity of the victims or the killer.’

‘Not strictly our job,’ Chrissy reminded her. ‘You coming for a drink?’

‘Not tonight. I’m off out on a date.’ Rhona told her the unexpected news.

‘With Dr Walker?’ Chrissy tried.

Rhona laughed. ‘No, he’s still cutting up bodies, and I’m pretty sure he’s lost all interest in me. I think I’ve been replaced by one of the mortuary assistants, Rachel.’

Chrissy sounded disappointed, since discussing complicated love lives was one of her favourite pastimes. They’d spent most of breakfast discussing the McNab/Ellie/Baldy story from last night.

‘Who then?’ she demanded.

‘Sean. He’s booked us a table at the Ubiquitous Chip for dinner.’

‘Mmmm. Lucky you.’

‘I’ll see you tomorrow, when I won’t be telling you what happened.’

29

The boss was scrutinizing him as only he could.

‘What are you suggesting?’ DI Wilson finally said.

‘That the two cases are connected via the Go Wild company, so they should be followed up together, sir,’ McNab said.

‘Has this got anything to do with your face, Sergeant?’

McNab had his answer ready.

‘We located a Glasgow address for Go Wild. DI Cleverly and I took a look. It was abandoned, but I found something there that led me to believe that an illegal bare-knuckle fight had been arranged by the company.’

DI Wilson sat back in his chair. ‘And you went to this fight?’

‘Just me, sir. DI Cleverly didn’t know about it.’ He halted, seeing the boss’s expression.

‘You withheld this information from Cleverly?’

McNab cleared his throat. The next bit of the explanation was tricky since it might involve mentioning breaking and entering.

‘I revisited the former Go Wild office address after we parted company, sir. That’s when I found the invitation.’

McNab held his breath as DI Wilson interpreted this partial information, then quickly broke in before the boss could pose a further question.