Her tone was even, but Joanne knew she meant it. When she didn’t respond, Caroline continued, ‘Greg belongs here. You don’t. You two had fun in London. Why not? We’d all been deprived during lockdown. He’s a good lay, but he didn’t expect you to turn up in Blackrig. That much was obvious. Which makes me wonder why you did. For more sex or for some other reason?’

Everything she was saying was true. Every word of it. Caroline was perceptive. Perhaps more than even Greg realized.

‘I’m here because Greg invited me. As far as he’s concerned, what happened between you two is over.’

Caroline nodded as though considering this.

‘So he doesn’t need me any more. Is that what you’re saying?’

Joanne shivered as she interpreted both the look and that pronouncement. Was Caroline insinuating that if she didn’t leave Blackrig, then she would no longer supply Greg’s alibi for that night?

‘Greg’s your friend,’ she said swiftly. ‘Has been from your schooldays together. You told me that yourself. Of course he needs you. Now more than ever.’

Did Caroline look mollified by her announcement? Joanne wasn’t sure.

Caroline rose. ‘I need to get back to the shop.’

‘You’ll go to Inverness and give a statement, won’t you?’

‘And what about you, Maya Villan? When will you be leaving Blackrig?’

Stunned by the use of her pen name, Joanne was speechless.

‘Oh yes. I know who you are. One of those women at the Party House came into the shop and kindly told us all about you. Is that why you’re here, to get the lowdown on all of us and our troubles for your blog?’

‘I think you’d better leave,’ Joanne managed, her voice trembling.

‘I think you should be the one to leave. And the sooner the better. For Greg’s sake.’

Greg

Returned to his cell, Greg had set about revisiting everything he’d said in the interview, already wishing he’d answered differently or, even better, retained his right to remain silent. He’d stupidly thought if he appeared helpful and cooperative, things would be okay.

It had all fallen apart, of course, when they’d revealed they had the evidence to prove he’d had sex with Ailsa the night she’d disappeared.

When she’d arrived at Beanach, furious at him for not meeting her in the woods, he’d tried to reason with her. Remind her that he’d told her they were over and that he would not meet her again, ever.

Her reaction had both surprised and worried him. Her anger had changed to despair. She’d professed that the only way she’d managed to keep her word to her parents to stay clean, not run away again and concentrate on getting to art college in the autumn was the time she’d spent with him.