Exiting the building, Greg was suddenly reminded that he was in a city surrounded by street lights and, no doubt, cameras. Malcolm’s car, headlights on, started up and moved towards him.

Greg opened the passenger door as though in a dream.

‘Get in, lad,’ Malcolm’s welcome voice rang out. ‘I’m taking you home.’

Greg

After greeting him, Malcolm had been silent, concentrating only on the driving and leaving Greg to his own thoughts. Living in Blackrig and its surrounds, you rarely encountered traffic lights, roundabouts or even two-way traffic, except at passing places. Malcolm didn’t venture to the city very often, which was obvious by his level of concentration.

Once clear of habitation, he began to relax. After which he suggested Greg give Joanne a call and let her know he was on his way.

It was the last thing Greg wanted to do, being the part of his dream he knew wouldn’t come true.

‘Go on. Give her a call. The lassie will be delighted.’

Greg remained silent.

‘What?’ Malcolm threw him a puzzled look.

‘I’m not expecting her to be there,’ he eventually said.

‘And why would that be?’

‘Because I lied to her, and to you and Kath and the police. I said I didn’t really know Ailsa, which wasn’t true. We were having an affair behind Caroline’s back. In fact, we had sex at Beanach the night she disappeared.’

Silence followed, before Malcolm eventually said, ‘I take it they found that out with their forensics and that’s why you were arrested?’

Greg nodded. ‘She walked away from Beanach that night, alive and well, although angry with me because I’d broken it off with her. Caroline had just found out she was pregnant and—’

‘Did Caroline know about the affair?’ Malcolm said.

‘She thought Ailsa was chasing me. I promised to be more firm with the girl. Tell her to stay away because Caroline and I were having a baby.’

Malcolm swore under his breath. ‘Caroline went to see Joanne. Told her if she didn’t leave Blackrig, she would withdraw your alibi for that night. Joanne came down to the village and told Kath about it, but when Kath went to talk to Caroline, she wasn’t there.’

‘The police told her they’d found my semen,’ he said. ‘She withdrew her statement.’

‘Yet they still let you go?’ Malcolm sounded both relieved and puzzled.

‘Mr McGann said that it proved I had sex with Ailsa, but not that I killed her.’ He turned to Malcolm, his voice breaking. ‘I didn’t kill her, but by sending her away that night, I might as well have.’

‘Ailsa, God help her, made plenty of enemies in Blackrig. Men – and women too. Now, give Joanne a call. She headed back up to Beanach after she’d spoken to Kath. She had no intention of leaving, she made that plain.’