“Nowhere. Quite literally.” He looked around him, saw the hillside reflected in the still surface of the loch. “If I remembered any of my geography classes, I might be able to describe it.”

“Too far south to turn around?”

“I’d say so. I think I’m about sixty miles from Tongue.”

“That’s a shame.”

“Next time, eh?” he said, rubbing at his forehead with the meat of his thumb. “Or maybe if you’re ever in Edinburgh. How are things anyway? It’s a beautiful location…”

“You looked in the windows, didn’t you? Place is a right tip.”

“No worse than mine. How’s Keith doing?”

“He’s okay. Got some work on the decommissioning project at Dounreay.”

“Do you check him for radioactivity?”

“I don’t need a bedside light anymore,” she joked. Then: “You should have told me you were coming.”

“It was more of an impulse thing,” he lied. “Sorry I’ve not phoned for a while.”

“You’re kept busy. I saw that woman mention you on the news.” Meaning Nina Hazlitt. “Is that why you were in Durness?”

“Sort of.”

“So that means you might be back?”

“I don’t think so. But everything’s all right with you and Keith?”

“We…we’re trying IVF.”

“Oh, aye?”

“At the Raigmore Hospital. First one didn’t take.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“We’re not giving up—not yet.”

“Good for you.” He closed his eyes and opened them again. The scenery took its time coming back into focus.

“I wish I’d been here. I was only out seeing a friend. Her baby’s nine months…”

“At least I know where you are now. When we’re on the phone like this in future, I can picture the view from your window.”

“It’s a nice view.”

“It really is.” Rebus cleared his throat. “I’d better get going. This is supposed to be me working.”

“Take care, Dad.”

“You too, Samantha.”

“I’m touched you came to visit. Really I am.”

He ended the call and stood there staring ahead of him without taking any of it in. Why hadn’t he told her he’d be dropping by? Did he want to see the look on her face so he could judge whether she was pleased or not? Probably. But then there was the other possibility: that he’d not wanted her to be home. That way they couldn’t end up falling out. He had made the effort, without any of the possible repercussions. Ever since Durness had been mentioned, he’d thought about Samantha, seeing an excuse to visit her without it looking as though he had gone out of his way.

Just passing.

“You’re a basket case, John,” he told himself as he headed back to the idling car. “And who wants a basket case as a grandad?”