"You could. Easy. I'll do the hard part. You don't need to see that. I just need you to give me a hand afterwards."

"A hand? What does that mean?"

"Getting rid of the body."

"I really don't think — "

"I'll make sure it's wrapped up, all sanitised and that. Promise. Just keep an eye out for me while I get the body out of her flat and downstairs. Help me get it into the car. Not ours, I'll steal one. We drive to the Forth, lose the body. After that, we'll dump the car and head home. I'll maybe need some help getting the body onto my shoulders, but I can carry it from there. Other than that, you won't need to touch it."

"Just warn you if somebody's around?"

"That's it. You'd be a lookout."

She lowered her gaze. After a bit she looked at him again and said, "You're going through with this." Not a question.

He nodded.

"Then steal a van," she said.

Jesus fucking Christ. She was going along with it. He stayed perfectly calm."You think?"

"Easier to get the body in and out."

"Yeah," he said, nodding. He clenched his fists. "Yeah. You thinking a Transit?"

"Doesn't need to be that big. Didn't Jordan's old man have three bodies in the back of his?"

"That wasn't his van."

She shook her head, exasperated. "But there were three bodies in it, right?"

"Yeah."

"So nick one of those vans, whatever it was. It'll be plenty big enough."

His fingernails were digging into the palms of his hands. "I'll ask Jordan."

"I know a good car thief if you need one. Brother of Arlene's boyfriend."

"Your sister can certainly pick them."

"You can fucking talk."

"He's reliable?"

"He nicks cars to order."

Carlos unclenched his fists, locked his trembling fingers together. "Kids've got too much money these days."

"And we should take a leaf out of their book. Burn the van afterwards."