‘I came back because I heard what happened to you,’ he said quietly.

Rhona studied his face. What did he know and who had told him? She couldn’t bring herself to ask either question.

‘I wanted to see for myself that you were all right.’

He had done that once before. Come looking for her to check if she was okay after the arson case in Edinburgh. And he’d come to her when he had needed help finding his missing friend, Jude.

‘I’m okay . . . now,’ Rhona said. ‘But thank you for being concerned.’

‘In case you’re wondering, I found out about the sin-eater case when I met a pal from uni. I got in touch with Sean and he told me a bit about what had happened, said that you’d gone to Skye to recuperate, but were back now and working.’

‘When did you contact Sean?’ Rhona didn’t like how quickly and shrilly she’d asked that question.

‘Firstly, when you were in Skye. Then today when I landed.’ He hesitated. ‘I should have come sooner, I’m sorry.’

‘No,’ Rhona said. ‘You shouldn’t. But I’m glad you’re here now. How long are you here for?’

‘A week. I’m going to see Mum and Dad after this, then I’m staying with a mate in town.’ He hesitated. ‘I thought we could eat together while I’m here? Sean says he’ll cook. What d’you think?’

‘I’d like that.’ She paused, and then came out with what she really wanted to know. ‘Has Edward Stewart been in touch with you?’

He looked startled by the question. ‘No, why?’

‘He asked me for your contact details. For some reason he knew you were coming back.’

Liam thought about that for a moment. ‘He has a son called Jonathan?’

Rhona nodded.

‘We have a mutual acquaintance. He must have heard that way.’

‘He says he wants to offer you a job,’ Rhona found herself saying.

Liam laughed out loud. ‘You’re joking? Why?’

‘Who knows if it’s even true?’ Rhona said.

‘And who cares,’ Liam told her.

‘I’ll drink to that,’ Rhona said, raising her glass.

‘So,’ Sean said later, after Liam had said his goodbyes, ‘when’s our meal?’

‘Tomorrow night if that works for you?’

‘Sure thing,’ he smiled. ‘Everything go all right with Liam?’

Rhona wanted to ask why he hadn’t told her Liam had been in touch when she was in Skye, but then again how could he, when she’d told him not to call her, but to wait for her to contact him. Sean had stuck by her wishes and, she assumed, Liam’s too.

‘It went well.’ She touched his arm. ‘Thank you.’

‘You give me too much credit. He’s a fine kid.’

‘Well, I can’t take any credit for that,’ Rhona said.

‘Hey, according to my forensic friend, a child takes fifty per cent DNA from each of their biological parents.’

‘With Edward and me as his biological parents, I’d say that Liam turned out the way he has because of nurture, not nature,’ Rhona said.