‘It’s a dead end, boss. Nothing on paper, or on Mortimer’s computer disks. I’ve given Kenny Duff his keys back. As far as I’m concerned he can carry on with winding up the estates.’

Skinner considered this for a few moments. ‘Okay. Tell him we’v finished with everything, except for Mortimer’s briefcase, and the other items that we have in the Productions Store.

‘Are the team here?’ Martin nodded. ‘Let’s have them in.’

The four detectives came into the room. Skinner invited them to sit. ‘Well, people, you’re probably all bored stiff by now. I’m sure you all see this as a complete waste of time.’

McGuire shook his head.

‘Come on, Mario,’ said Skinner. ‘I sent you hunting wild geese. That’s what you’re really thinking, isn’t it?’

With a slow, wry smile, McGuire nodded his head.

Skinner smiled back. ‘Well that’s tough on you. Sometimes it comes with the warrant card and the nice suits we get to wear!

‘But seriously, I’ve been impressed by the way that you lot have done the job, regardless of the boredom. You worked well and methodically as a team. That’s why I want us all to work together on one of the most sensitive security jobs we’ve had in this city since the Pope stood under John Knox’s statue. Andy, will you explain, please.’

Martin stood up from his seat in the corner. ‘Question. Who is Hassan Al-Saddi?’

He looked from face to face. ‘No? Well, for the past six weeks or so, Mr Al-Saddi has been President of Syria. He took over following his predecessor’s enforced resignation, having been the strong man behind the scenes for some time before that.

‘He is a hard-liner, and believes that the previous incumbent was soft in his attitude to the West, and conciliatory towards Israel. Since he came to power there have been signs of a shift in the balance in the Arab world; the PLO have certainly become noisier. Get to know the name, and that face.’ He handed round a large black-and-white photograph. ‘On January the eighteenth you’re all going to be involved in protecting him when he visits Edinburgh.’

Martin described the detail of the Syrian’s visit. ‘Syria doesn’t have an embassy in this country at the moment. Later today, a Lebanese diplomat and a guy from the Foreign Office will arrive to look over the route, the hotel and the venue. Mario, you’ll drive the boss and me to meet them at the airport, and then take them to the Norton House Hotel and the MacEwan Hall. I’ve already had a quick look. All three places appear to give us the minimum security problems. Everybody on the team will be allocated specific tasks for the visit once the Lebanese representative is happy. That’s all I have to say for now.’ He resumed his seat.

‘I have a few things to add on the other matter,’ said Skinner. ‘Call it a bonus. All that boring time you’ve spent going through those files wasn’t in vain after all. The Filofax and the address book which Mr Martin and I took away have given us a lead. That lead has taken us quite a way.

‘For example, we now know that our two victims were paid twenty thousand pounds - that’s right, twenty big ones - in two cash instalments; paid, it seems, by a diplomat who, by a coincidence, bearing in mind the previous item, happens to be Lebanese, with strong Syrian connections. We have to consider the possibility that this transaction was linked in some way to the murders, and that this man, might be our killer. I’d like to ask him politely whether he is or not, but I can’t. Not just because he’s a diplomat, but because he’s disappeared.

‘We know too, that this same bloke has a past connection, a student relationship at Edinburgh University, with Rachel Jameson. We are further aware of a link between the pair of them and a one-time student radical, now turned businessman - and boring wee fart, according to Mr Martin - called Andrew Harvey.

‘Mrs Harvey, who was around then, too, has for some reason, been telling us porky pies about those days. In current circumstances, I hope you’ll agree that all that is very interesting. So we’re keeping a close eye on Mr and Mrs H. at the moment, as the only members of this wee group who are alive or otherwise available. I want you four to take over that surveillance, and to be ready to follow wherever it leads you.

‘I’ll say this once more. I want you to keep this enquiry absolutely secret.

He looked slowly from face to face. ‘I’m going to tell you this only because I trust you all implicitly. There are people in high places outside this force who know something of our enquiries, and who don’t like them one wee bit. In fact, I’ve been given a heavy hint to lay off, for reasons which I believe to be political.’

His eyes swept the room again, catching the concern in the four faces. ‘I’ve never been a politician. I don’t really know what the word means.

‘This is still a multiple murder enquiry, for all the cloak and dagger I expect the pressure to get tougher. If it does, I’ll handle it. All I ask of you is total discretion. Nothing on paper. Report orally to me or Mr Martin. Unless it’s most urgent, use the phone rather than police radio.’

He paused, and looked every officer in the eye, in turn. ‘Having told you all that, I’m offering you an exit. If anyone thinks that this is too heavy for him, or her, or worries about career prospects - and I won’t deny it, if this thing goes really badly south that could be a worry — they are free to opt out right now. No comebacks.’ He paused again. He looked again at each officer. ‘Well?’

Brian Mackie stood up, a gesture surprising in its formality. ‘Sir, over the past four days, we’ve all, well we’ve come to know Mike and Rachel. And none of us will ever forget young MacVicar, or the others. We’re all as determined as you are to catch the animal who killed them.’

Skinner’s smile was one of gratitude. ‘You’re all good people. Stick with me on this I won’t let you down.’