He’d walked all the way to Ellie’s flat in the sleet and had stood looking up at her window. He’d opened the street door with her key and climbed the stairs. He’d stood outside her door and listened for what seemed an age.

Then he’d taken out his notebook and written her a note explaining what had happened in the hospital. That he was sorry Harry had gone before he’d arrived, but Harry had left a positive message for him in the sign-out book and assured the nurse in charge that all was well.

He apologized for coming home late and promised he’d be in touch again soon. And he was looking for Harry to make sure he was okay. He signed it ‘Michael’ and posted it through her letter box. Then he’d walked home and fallen into bed to be wakened by a call from the station that said DI Wilson was coming on the line.

‘The team didn’t make it to Skye last night due to bad weather. Get yourself down there, Detective Sergeant, and go with them.’

‘But, sir, you said I was to look for Harry McArthur.’

‘Someone else can do that now we have the lead on Peter Galbraith being on Skye. Find him and bring him back with you.’

McNab muttered his agreement, hung up and headed for the shower, standing under a tepid spray to help himself wake up. He had no desire to travel in a helicopter again and hadn’t done so since the Sanday case. Neither did he like the idea of going back to Skye, which he’d seen very little of when he’d deposited Rhona there what seemed like months ago.

Then again, he would rather follow up the lead Harry had left him than look for Harry himself. And when he returned, things might have cooled down on the Ellie front. But not too cool, McNab hoped.

Emerging from the shower, he checked the wardrobe for clothes suitable for a cold, wet and possibly snowy Skye, cursing the fact he was going there and at the same time wearing a smile because he would see Rhona in the flesh again as opposed to just Skyping her.

Surely between himself and Chrissy they would succeed in bringing her home?

‘You’re late,’ Janice told him on arrival at the helicopter station. ‘There is a window of opportunity, according to the pilot, and we need to take it.’

‘Aren’t you pleased I’m coming with you?’

DS Clark dismissed his desire for a response with a raised eyebrow and a silently mouthed expletive.

‘I feel the same way about you,’ McNab assured her with a smile.