‘You sound just like him. Like when he told my superior officers to “stay oot ma road”.’ She mimicked Boonzie’s tone and accent perfectly. ‘Frankly, I was a little concerned about him carrying out his own private inquiry. I hope we’re not going to have that kind of problem with you. Are we?’

‘I didn’t come here to cause trouble,’ Ben said.

‘Or put the local heavies in hospital.’

‘That was their choice, not mine. I’m interested in just one thing. The safety and wellbeing of my friend.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. I really hope he’s okay, too.’

And with that, they had arrived at old Mrs Gunn’s place.

Chapter 20

The most senior resident of Kinlochardaich was as wrinkled as a Galapagos tortoise, deafer than a rock, and a nail-hard negotiator with a very definite sense of the worth of her empty cottage next door. The converted mews was attached to the large stone-built house in which Mrs Gunn lived alone on the edge of the village. As a temporary base it suited Ben’s needs just fine. The single bedroom was small and basic, the tiny living room had a wood-burner and there was a log pile and a splitting axe in the shed. He always travelled with enough cash to meet unforeseen expenditures, and once the deal had been thrashed out at maximum volume, Ben shelled out a week’s rent in advance. Clutching the cash in her bony fist she handed over an iron key the size of a soup spoon, and the cottage was his.

‘Welcome to Kinlochardaich,’ Grace said when Mrs Gunn had retreated to her house and the two of them were alone. They stepped out into the amber glow of the streetlamp. She asked, ‘You want a lift back to your car?’

The snow had stopped and the clouds had cleared to unmask a billion stars twinkling beneath the infinite dome of the inky-black sky. Looking up at the immensity of it made north-western Scotland feel like just another pinprick slowly wheeling around the outer fringes of the Milky Way. Ben couldn’t remember the last time he’d breathed air so pure and invigorating. ‘I think I’ll walk it, thanks.’

‘Well, I guess I’ll see you around, Mr Ben Hope. Try not to get into any more trouble, will you?’

‘You keep saying that like I’m a disreputable character.’

‘No, I’m sure you’re really the perfect gentleman. Mr Charm himself.’

He feigned surprise. ‘That’s what they call me. How did you know?’

‘Och, get out of here.’

‘I love the way you Scottish ladies say “och”.’

She smiled. ‘I could still arrest you, you know.’

‘It was nice meeting you, Grace.’

‘Yeah, right.’ Then with a last crooked smile that Ben liked a very great deal, she jumped back into her Land Rover and took off with a puff of smoke and tyres crunching on the snow.