Greg interrupted him. ‘Shut up and listen, Colin. You need to cover the area, before the guests come. Use one of the big tarpaulins. That way it won’t be visible. If the cars arrive from Inverness before I get there, tell whoever’s in charge that the hot tub’s been damaged so it won’t be in use. As soon as the scene’s protected, call the police. I’ll phone the company now and explain there’s been an incident in the grounds and the police have been informed. They can decide how to deal with it after that.’

Colin sounded calmer now as he accepted his instructions.

Greg told him he’d done well. ‘I’ll be with you shortly.’

He was quietly congratulating himself on the fact that his plan, constructed last night, had been the right one, then he realized that Joanne was standing at the study door.

How long had she been there and how much had she heard?

‘What’s wrong?’ she asked.

What should he tell her? He made a split-second decision not to include the body, which would immediately drag up the Ailsa story. Something he wasn’t keen to mention until he had to.

‘Someone’s vandalized the hot tub at the Party House, and the guests arrive this morning. We’re trying to sort something out.’ He hoped that would be enough for the moment. ‘I have to speak to the owners, then head up there.’

He could tell by her expression that she thought the phone call had been worse than that, so chances were she’d been there when he’d had to shout at Colin to pull himself together.

‘Sorry, I need to phone the estate owners,’ he said to distract her. ‘Maybe you could put on some coffee?’

After he heard her go downstairs, Greg shut the study door and attempted to make the call, only to have it go to voicemail with, ‘The office is currently closed. Please leave a message.’

Greg recorded a brief piece regarding vandalism in the grounds of Ard Choille, and that the police were involved, then rang off.

Dressed now, he went downstairs, to be greeted by the smell of fresh coffee – Joanne had done as asked. She’d also made him a bacon roll to take away.

He thanked her with a kiss. ‘I’m not sure how long this will take.’

‘Don’t worry. I can occupy myself,’ Joanne said with a supportive smile. ‘Shall I take something out of the freezer for dinner?’

‘I’ve fresh salmon in the outside larder if you fancy a change from meat,’ he said. ‘Good job you’re not vegetarian.’

‘Who said I’m not?’ The look she gave him had him worried for a moment, before she laughed. ‘Go to it, Mellors. I’ll see you when you get back.’

‘I’ll look forward to it, Lady Chatterley.’

Joanne