Despite the fact that I’m a good fifteen minutes early, Ben is already seated at a table when I get there, nursing a pint with half an eye on the door whilst he chats to the waitress. A different waitress tonight, but one no less smitten with him. “Ailsa,” he calls, climbing out of his chair, and I lift a hand and head over. He must have showered after work: his hair is damp and there’s a strong smell of his aftershave when he kisses me on the cheek. He’s exactly the relaxed, at-ease character I first met, except he’s not, quite. Something is off. I try to figure out what as he asks me what I want to drink. There’s a tightness around his eyes, perhaps, and I find an answering tightness developing in my chest. Nothing to worry about. I knew that was rubbish.

“So what is it you wanted to talk about?” I ask as lightly as I can when I have a glass of wine in front of me.

“Best wait for Fiona and Jamie,” he says easily. “Save me having to say things twice.” So, Jamie too. Earlier it was only Fiona. “Oh, here they are.”

I glance up to find them both crossing toward us. They pause to give a drinks order to the waitress and then I’m enveloped in the ensuing hellos. Jamie kisses me on the cheek and, after a slight hesitation, Fiona does the same; I have to bend my head to facilitate it. Ben gets a hug, though. I sense that’s more natural for her. She’s dressed in jeans and a light fleece, a thoroughly no-effort attire, but she has mascara on. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her wearing makeup before. It suits her.

“Callum’s missing you already,” she says with a smile. “He doesnae think you should be on your own.”

I don’t think I should be alone, either. Not in the Manse, which is why I won’t be staying there. But if I say that, there will be twenty minutes of discussion before Ben tells me why I’m here. “Bless, I miss him too.”

“Is the alarm set up now?” Jamie asks. “Ah, thank you,” he says to the waitress who has just delivered the drinks. “Does it go straight to the police?”

I nod. “Yep. I’m terrified I’m going to set it off by accident and look like a moron.” A thought strikes me. “God, I’d better text Carrie the code, otherwise she might set it off.” I grab my phone.

“Aye, you’d definitely look like a moron if it goes off the very first day,” says Fiona.