18

'That's your phone,' Chrissie said, her voice muffled by the duvet.

McKay said something incomprehensible from under the covers. He rolled over, fumbling for his phone on the bedside table, succeeding only in knocking over a glass of water. He sat up. 'Fuck.'

'Just like old times,' Chrissie said. 'I'd forgotten how much fun it was.'

The phone was buzzing away beside the bed. McKay snatched it up.

'It's work, isn't it?'

'It's Ginny.' Finally waking up sufficiently to work out what he ought to be doing, McKay took the call. 'Ginny?'

'You okay, Alec? You sound a bit hassled.'

'You woke me up.' His tone was intended to sound accusatory, but he knew it simply came across as petulant.

'I thought you'd have been up hours ago.'

McKay looked at his watch sitting in a pool of spilled water. Not hours ago, he thought defensively, but she's right. I should have been up. 'You in the office?'

'No, I'm still out in Ardersier.'

'Glad to hear it. Thought you might be getting too keen.'

'I went for a run this morning, out by McDermott's Yard.'

'You don't need to give me a status update, you know, Ginny. I'm not fucking social media.'

'This is serious, Alec. I was out by McDermott's Yard and I found a body–'

'This some sort of elaborate practical joke?' He glanced over at Chrissie, who was listening to his side of the conversation with obvious curiosity. He wondered momentarily whether to mention what exactly Horton had interrupted, but decided neither woman would forgive him if he did.

'No, Alec,' Horton said patiently. 'There's a body. It wasn't me who found him, to be accurate. It was some old guy walking his dog.'

'It's always the fucking dog walkers,' McKay said. 'Do you realise how much quieter our lives would be if people weren't allowed to walk their fucking dogs?'

'That would really make you happier, wouldn't it? Anyway, there's a body. It's been there a day or two, given the state of it, but I can't tell you much else.'

'You've called it in?'

'No, I thought I'd wait a few more days so it could get really decomposed. Yes, of course I've bloody called it in. Got some uniforms coming over to protect the site, examiners supposedly on their way.'

'You think it's suspicious?'

'No real way of knowing at the moment. I've not approached any closer than I needed to confirm it was really what it appeared to me. I'd say male, but that's about all I can tell you and I'm not even certain of that. But it's an odd place to find a body.'

'It is that,' McKay agreed. 'But people, especially kids, do go exploring that place. Somebody might have had an accident. Or some jogger or fucking dog walker having a coronary. Or some junkie sleeping rough…'

'I know. It's all possible. No point in speculating till we know the circumstances. But given we've one unexplained killing on our hands.'

'You thought you might as well add to the list. Fair play, I suppose. But, you're right, might not be a bad idea to be on the scene just in case there is a link. We've got everything in place on the McGuire enquiry now, so that'll trundle on for an hour or two.' McKay and Horton had initiated a variety of activities the previous afternoon, ranging from door to doors in the vicinity of the crime scene through to collecting CCTV footage and ANPR data from cameras around the city. They were still waiting on sign-off of their proposed trip to talk to McGuire's partner and agent in Edinburgh, and hadn't yet managed to track down the elusive Jack Dingwall. 'You spoken to Helena yet?'

'Yes, I thought I'd better brief her before I called you.'

'Smart move. Always keep your arse covered when you're working with me.'

'We've been together a few years now, Alec. That's one lesson I learnt a long time ago. Anyway, Helena thought the same. Apart from anything else, if it turns out this is connected, it shows we're on the ball.'

'Aye, I imagine the shite will be hitting the proverbial this morning with the McGuire killing.' They'd made that public the previous evening in time for the later TV and radio news bulletins, but the real coverage would come this morning. The full details hadn't been revealed, but there'd be enough for the media to get their teeth into. 'I'll be over as quick as I can.'

'Can't be soon enough,' Horton said. 'Apart from anything else, I wouldn't mind someone relieving me a bit so I can get some clothes on. I'm still in my running gear.'

'Always told you no good would come of all that fitness bollocks. I'm on my way.' He ended the call and looked down at Chrissie, who was lying next to him with a faint smile.

'It brings it all back.'

'Murder investigation,' he said. 'And now we've another body, which may or may not be connected.'

'All go, isn't it?'

'Look, Chrissie, I'm really sorry. Especially after… you know.'

She laughed. 'I've never minded this, Alec. I know it goes with the job. It's what I married. It's one reason I love you.'

He noted the present tense. He couldn't remember the last time she'd said that, even in the counselling sessions. 'But still.'

'That's never been the problem. The problem's been what's been going on between us.'

'I quite enjoyed what was going on between us last night.'

'Only quite? Alec, this is the best it's been between us since… since as long as I can remember.'

'You think we're on our way back then?'

She hesitated so long he thought she was going to say no. 'On our way, yes. But we're not there yet. I don't want to rush it.'

'But…'

'I'm serious about this, Alec. Last night was terrific. All of it. It feels like we've turned over a new leaf. But let's have a day or two to reflect before we take the next step, eh?'

'This your way of letting me down gently?'

'You know me better than that. If I were going to let you down, there'd be nothing gentle about it. Look, give it a day or so. Just so we're both certain where we want to go next. Then you come round to supper at home.'

'Home?'

'Aye, home. Our home. Not this dump.'

McKay looked around the tiny bedroom. 'You know how much time I've spent on this place?'

'Aye, bugger all. Come round tomorrow night. Have supper with me. We'll take it from there.'

He nodded, knowing this was the best offer he was going to get. 'It's a deal. I'd better get up, get showered and go and relieve Ginny. And see whether we've got another killing on our hands. You want me to give you a lift in?'

'If you've got time,' she said. 'I could get a cab.'

'I'll drop you off. It's not really out of the way.' He paused. 'In any case, it'll be good to get a glimpse of home.'