‘I know that, but have you told us the truth, the whole truth?’ Muirhead’s voice carried an edge like a honed blade.

‘Yes.’

‘Really?’

‘I told you, yes.’

‘Apart from the lies you have admitted telling us?’

‘I think so.’

‘You think so. When you identified the man in court, you said you were sure. Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

‘May the jury take it that you would not allow your evidence on such a crucial matter to be influenced by the offer of a second-hand suit?’

‘Of course not.’

‘I thought so.’

The slightly kinder tone of voice made Sammy think that the worst might be past. He was about to be proved very wrong.

Grant McAllister was sitting in the corner of the waiting room used by police witnesses. His junior colleagues sat together chatting about the topics which most occupied their minds – football, drink and sex, but not necessarily in that order. McAllister sat alone, wrapped up in his thoughts.

The investigation had been speedy and efficient. A man had been charged and was standing trial. On the face of it, the case looked solid. Not overwhelming, but solid enough. And yet! And yet he had a bad feeling about it, a sense of unease which was steadily deepening.

He was only too well aware that there were machinations going on behind the scenes and he could not get any kind of a grip on what or who or, more to the point, why.

Someone was trying to put pressure on Muirhead and the arrogant bastard knew it, but he would not co-operate with the police. He had often known of witnesses being threatened, but a lawyer, that was different, and how. In one way this did not evoke much sympathy within him. Perhaps the likes of James Muirhead, Queen’s Counsel, might come to appreciate what the real world was really like.

Equally, he knew that this could only be intended to have some effect on the trial. What the hell could it be? What? What? What?

Then there was the girl, Barbara Potter – she too had been got at. Something of which the police had had no inkling. It was quite unacceptable that any Crown witness should be pressurised and not only had the police done nothing about it, they knew nothing about it.

McAllister recognised that the crucial evidence was yet to come. Arguably the case had gone in favour of the defence thus far. He did not regard this as a particularly serious problem, and was often to be expected. He had had a meeting with the Procurator Fiscal and the Advocate Depute and was aware that the plan was to lead the background and general evidence before turning to the matters which best linked Gallagher to the murders.