‘Last time I saw you was—’ Rhona began.

‘At Loch A’an,’ he finished for her.

They shared an unspoken memory that brought a fleeting look of sorrow to his eyes as Rhona recalled watching Alvis walk off into the hills to finally revisit the place he’d lost his beloved wife, Marita.

‘How’s Detective Sergeant McNab?’ Alvis said swiftly, perhaps to change the subject.

At McNab’s name, Rhona remembered. Checking her watch, she said, ‘He’s about to Skype me.’ She glanced at her laptop sitting open on the small dining table.

‘If you want to talk privately I can go outside and admire the view again,’ Alvis immediately offered.

‘No. He’ll be pleased to see you,’ Rhona said, realizing that spotting Alvis’s presence would alter what McNab planned to say, which would have undoubtedly referred to her appointment that morning.

Rhona carried both mugs to the table and, pulling up a chair alongside, suggested Alvis join her. Not usually known for his timekeeping, McNab had been more than punctual on his arranged calls up to now. He had been adamant about this regular method of keeping in touch before he’d agreed to leave her here, ‘alone in the Highlands’. Rhona had accepted his conditions, all the while assuming that eventually pressure of work at home in Glasgow would let her off the hook.

The sound of the sing-song Skype ringtone indicated that it hadn’t.

And there he was, a little rough and ready, the reddish stubble just a bit too long, the eyes in need of sleep. McNab’s face broke into that characteristic smile as he spotted her. ‘Dr MacLeod. It’s yourself – or should I say Tha thu fhèin?’

Rhona ignored his attempt at Gaelic and swivelled her laptop so that he might see Alvis. ‘And look who’s with me.’

McNab’s face now presented a picture, and not a pretty one, before he swiftly assumed a less gobsmacked look.

‘Inspector Olsen. What are you doing there?’

‘Good to see you, McNab. I’m on holiday, just like Rhona. How’s Chrissy and DI Wilson?’

‘Okay,’ McNab finally managed, his expression betraying the thought processes going on behind it.

‘Please give them my regards.’

Rhona’s initial suspicions regarding Alvis came into full bloom at this interchange.

Alvis knows. He must have called the lab for some reason and Chrissy told him I was here and probably why. But she didn’t tell McNab about that call.

Rhona broke into the conversation and said in a bright voice, ‘Tell Chrissy my holiday’s about to be over.’

‘You’re coming back?’ McNab said in delighted surprise.

‘Not exactly.’ Rhona described the possible crime scene, embellishing it a little for effect. ‘I plan to take a closer look in the morning.’

‘You’re having us on?’ McNab said in disbelief.