The interruption over, Holly returned to her position leaning against the bar and resumed the flirting. ‘So where’re you from?’ she asked, a lot more interested in Ben than in who his friend might be, and making no attempt to hide it. Nineteen or twenty years old, stuck out here in a lonely rural village with obviously not too many strange and interesting new men passing through her life. She was more the kind of age for Jude, Ben thought. His son was between girlfriends at the moment, still living in the States but talking about returning home to the UK. Maybe Ben should send him up north to hook up with Holly here. She’d certainly make a refreshing change from the last one, a social justice warrior and do-gooder political activist called Rae Lee.

‘I live abroad,’ Ben said.

‘Thought you were English.’ That didn’t seem to put Holly off, though.

He replied, ‘Half Irish. But I don’t live there, either.’

‘How long did you say you were staying?’ Getting bolder with the flirting now.

‘Only until I find my friend. Which I’m hoping to do soon. Maybe a day or so.’

‘Och, that’s a shame. Did you say your friend’s a local?’

‘No, he’s just passing through, same as me. His name’s Boonzie McCulloch. He’s Ewan McCulloch’s uncle. Do you know Ewan?’

She nodded. ‘Aye, I know Ewan. Heard he was in the hospital, though. Is he okay?’

‘Not really. That’s why his uncle travelled to the area. I was hoping to catch up with him here in Kinlochardaich, but no joy. I wondered if maybe he’d been in here for a drink the last couple of days? Older guy. Shorter than me, wiry build. Grey hair, beard. Speaks like he’s from Glasgow.’

Holly looked dubious. ‘I don’t think I’ve seen him. I mean, we get a lot of older customers who look like that, but you’re the first new face who’s been in here lately.’ She added, ‘I should know.’

‘All the same, I have a photo of him, if you wouldn’t mind taking a look. Might ring a bell.’

She shrugged. ‘Sure, but like I say, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t come in here.’