Was Caroline befriending Joanne in order to fill her in on a few incidents in his past or even in the present, which would likely involve her, or even worse, Ailsa?

Thinking of Joanne and their morning together at the lochan and then again tonight, when he’d seen her waiting for him at the bar, he resolved not to let that happen.

Joanne wasn’t part of his past, but she might be a part of his future. If he had one.

Later, as they walked home together under a bright moon, she stopped him when he tried to explain about Caroline.

‘I’ve something I have to tell you,’ she said.

He listened in silence as she explained about secretly visiting the Party House to check out the grave site. How shocked and embarrassed she’d been at being spotted by Aidan, who she’d met once at a Field Sports event.

‘I told him I was staying in the village, in case my being at Beanach might make things difficult for you.’

He wanted to ask her why she was photographing the grave and why Stratton had called her Maya, but knew, if he did, this moment between them would be broken.

And he didn’t want that. Just as he didn’t want her to demand he reveal everything he was hiding about Caroline.

He took her hand. ‘Ever made love under a full moon?’ he asked, glancing up at the sky.

‘No,’ she gave a little laugh, ‘but I’d like to.’

Joanne

An early call woke her next morning. Judging by the empty bed and silence from the rest of the house, Greg had already left to meet with his stalking party.

Checking the screen, she found Lucy’s name and swiftly answered.

‘I promise, I was planning on calling you today,’ she said, before Lucy could speak. When there was no immediate response to that, Joanne said, ‘What’s wrong?’

‘He was here late last night,’ Lucy said in a frightened tone.

‘What? How did he get your address?’

‘Who knows? Probably the police. He’s got enough contacts in the Met.’

She was right, he did.

‘What happened?’

‘He asked in that calm measured manner of his if I knew where you were.’

Joanne could see him in her mind’s eye doing exactly that. When they’d first met, she’d loved his low, melodious tones. Even in court, she thought he often won his cases because of that voice. A voice suffused with honesty and calm integrity. Whatever Richard said his client did or didn’t do had to be true. Didn’t it?