‘I know. But I’m a persistent cow when my mind’s made up. I drove up and down for an hour before I spotted your car. That told me what end of the loch you were scouting. Which makes sense. The furthest point from where Ross Campbell died. If McGlashan came back here, this would be the spot.’

‘Smart thinking, officer.’

‘I’m a top cop. Then I went looking for you. Turns out you found me instead, just when I was about to freeze my arse off. So here we are. What do you say?’

‘You barely know me. Why would you trust me?’

‘I see a guy who knows how to handle himself, with the brains to figure things out and the integrity and courage to do whatever it takes to help a friend in need. I’ve a good eye for people, Ben. And I don’t think you’re so bad. You’d make an excellent police officer.’

‘Insulting me now?’

‘Come on, Ben. I’m serious.’

‘So am I, Grace. No offence, but what makes you think I’d want to tag along with you?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, purlease, not the “I work alone” thing. Why shouldn’t you want to? Because of what I do for a living? Are you scared of me?’

‘No, I’m not scared of you.’

‘Maybe you’re worried you’ll compromise yourself. What are you gonna do, shoot someone?’

He said nothing.

She gave him the smile again. ‘Besides, if you don’t agree to work along with me on this, I won’t tell you Jamie McGlashan’s address.’

‘A trailer home half a mile from Kinlochardaich. You’ve already told me enough to find it.’

‘Yeah, but what if I was spinning you a load of crap to put you off the mark? Then you wouldn’t have a chance in hell.’

He said nothing.

‘You know you need me. In fact you can’t do without me.’

He was quiet for a few moments longer. Then asked, ‘When do you have to go back to work?’

Grace looked at her watch. It was coming on for two p.m. ‘In about six hours from now. My turn for the evening shift. Lucky me.’

Ben said, ‘Then let’s waste no time.’

Chapter 29

Three days earlier

After Boonzie is taken

‘Is he dead?’

The group of men by the ruined chapel were looking down at the unconscious body on the ground. Hacker knelt down and took Boonzie McCulloch’s pulse, then looked up.

‘He’s not dead.’

‘What’s wrong with him? People don’t just keel over for no reason.’

Hacker said, ‘It’s his heart.’

Hacker’s employer looked at him. ‘You know that, do you? Are you a doctor now?’