‘Can we help you?’ one of them said gruffly, speaking through a mouthful of black pudding.

‘It’s all right, Bobby,’ Steel told him. ‘These ladies are just here to offer their condolences. Aren’t you?’

‘Quite,’ said Catherine. ‘I don’t mean to intrude. I can see you’re all devastated.’

‘Loss affects people in different ways,’ Steel replied, still poker-faced. ‘Bobby and Big Nige here are comfort-eating.’

This drew a grunt of laughter from Big Nige on the right, while Bobby on the left just eyed them warily and kept chewing.

‘You knew James McDiarmid what, twenty-odd years?’ Catherine said. ‘Since you were both in your teens.’

‘Aye, what aboot it? Is this grief tourism or something? Are you all put oot because you’ve come doon here and you’re not getting to see any grown men cry?’

‘As you said, Mr Steel, it affects people in different ways. I just thought, given the length of your relationship, you’d be keen to assist our efforts in bringing your friend’s killer – or killers – to justice.’

‘If I knew anything, you’d be the first person I’d tell,’ Steel replied, before taking a sip of juice. ‘Unfortunately, I’m totally in the dark here.’

‘Can you think of anybody who might have wished Mr McDiarmid any harm?’ Laura asked, playing the game by responding in kind.

‘I’ll not lie to you, hen, we’re nane of us nursery teachers. I don’t doubt Jai had enemies. But this came out of the blue, and that’s gospel.’

Catherine clocked Steel eyeing the salt, about to reach for it, but she got there first, picking it up as though absent-mindedly.

‘You’re telling us you’ve no idea what this might be about?’ she asked, toying with the object between her fingers. ‘There’s nobody you’re worried about making a move on you, given that they’ve just taken out your right-hand man?’

Steel put down his fork, a sour look on his face. He wasn’t going to enjoy his breakfast now until he’d got rid of her, and he certainly wasn’t going to enjoy his omelette until he’d got the salt back.

‘You need to stop reading the Daily Record,’ he said. ‘Until I read aboot it, I wasnae aware I had a right-hand man. Aye, we did business, and aye, we ran aboot together when we were kids, but we don’t have a gang hut any more. I don’t know what Jai was up to seven days a week, any more than I know what Bobby and Nige here have got planned for this afternoon. Jai got himself in bother, obviously, the worst kind, but it’s nothing to do with me.’

‘When did you hear?’ Catherine asked.

‘Back of seven.’

‘Not a nice way to start the day. Woken up with that news.’

‘I was awake already. I’m an early riser.’