On her feet now, she accepted his help this time and they trudged back together towards the guiding light that was Beanach.

Greg

He left her sleeping, knowing she would be there when he returned.

They’d spoken long into the night. Her story mostly. She’d been frank enough about how and why she’d ‘accidentally’ met him at the entrance to the dining room that morning in London. He’d listened as she’d explained her reasoning, her need to escape with only a narrow window of opportunity to do so.

Her greatest difficulty was when she’d spoken about Richard, and her reasons for running.

There had been a horrible story of a man he’d defended for murdering his wife and children. Some scattered, stumbled words about the method he’d used to do that, and Richard’s thoughts on where the blame lay for the man’s actions.

At that point his own fears since they’d discovered Ailsa’s body seemed meaningless beside hers.

Eventually she’d been persuaded to go to bed. He’d tucked her in, then lain alongside, his arm cradling her. Once she was asleep, he’d taken himself down to the couch with a blanket and tried to rest in the few hours that remained before he had to face Stratton again.

He decided he would go early to the Bothy, rouse Colin and pick up his dogs, Cal and Sasha. That thought made him happy, despite the prospect of dealing with his boss.

Other thoughts had crowded his mind, denying him sleep.

Was Stratton aware that Joanne, or Maya as he knew her by, had been living here with him? Or did he still believe what she’d told him, that she was staying at Kath’s guest house?

It wasn’t beyond Stratton to ask about in the village. Find out for sure where the journalist was staying. Even more so if he’d thought after seeing them together outside the hotel that they might be an item. Stirring things up for folk was what gave the bastard a hard-on.

The easiest way would be for Stratton to ask Colin outright if she was staying at Beanach. Colin didn’t have the heart or devious mind of a liar and would no doubt answer without thought that there might be consequences.

Greg eventually managed a couple of hours’ sleep before his alarm buzzed to wake him. Rising, he made himself coffee and – after checking on Joanne, who was still sleeping peacefully – headed out.