Even with extensive blood loss, possible poisoning and a totally fucked arm, Roddy still somehow managed to look good. He was topless, the entire right side of his chest and shoulder heavily bandaged, all the way down to his elbow. His flat stomach and rippling muscles were sickening to Adam, and while his face was pale, the skin tone on his body suggested he’d just come off the beach. Which he had, of course.

Roddy was sleeping with a peaceful look on his face. Adam stood over him, examining the faint lines bunched around his eyes. They’d been friends for twenty years. Over that time they’d both changed beyond recognition, but they’d somehow stayed in each other’s orbit. How had that happened? Adam thought about how he felt when he briefly thought Roddy was dead back at the crash site. They seemed to need each other, a symbiotic relationship which didn’t necessarily do either of them any good. Or did it? Adam got to feel morally superior, while Roddy got to flaunt his successful lifestyle in Adam’s face. Or maybe it was the other way around – Adam got to reinforce his loser status by witnessing Roddy’s success, while Roddy caught the occasional glimpse of what life could’ve been if he’d had a moral compass. Whatever, they certainly had something to keep them together now, this whole horrific escapade. This struggle for survival would tether them to each other until the grave.

Roddy’s eyes flickered then opened. He rolled his head to the side and looked at his bandaged arm, then turned to Adam.

‘I’m gonna miss that piece of shit metal spike,’ he said, grimacing through a smile.

‘How are you feeling?’

‘Like I’ve just spent twenty-four hours running around the wilderness with a bit of car in my shoulder, trying not to get killed by a maniac.’

Adam looked round at the open door, then went to close it.

‘That never happened, of course,’ he said.

‘Of course,’ said Roddy. ‘What the fuck do you take me for?’

‘I just wanted to make sure you were clear about our story,’ said Adam. ‘You were pretty out of it back there sometimes.’

‘All thanks to Uncle Charlie. What happened to my case, by the way?’

Adam shook his head. ‘I chucked it over the side of the lifeboat while you were out for the count. Thought it was for the best.’

‘Shame, I could do with some now,’ said Roddy, his body tensing as he shifted his weight.

‘Here,’ said Adam, lifting a button attached to a drip going into Roddy’s hand. ‘The nurse showed me, this is morphine. You press it to get more.’

Roddy grinned. ‘Drugs on tap? That’s a fucking sweet deal.’

He pressed the button and waited a few seconds. He stared at Adam, his eyes widening then narrowing. ‘Oh fuck, that’s good shit.’ He sank into his pillows.

‘So,’ said Adam. ‘Our story?’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ said Roddy dreamily. ‘We crashed. Found Ethan. Luke missing. Set a fire and sat around all night till morning. Simple.’

‘Cool,’ said Adam. ‘They’ve found Joe and Grant already.’

Roddy gazed glassily through the morphine. ‘I knew they would. A fire that size was bound to attract attention. What’re they saying?’

‘We spoke to that copper Eric that Molly knows.’

‘Did you tell him what really happened?’

Adam shook his head. ‘Molly thought it best to just stick to our story with him too.’

‘Clever girl,’ said Roddy. ‘She’s right. Can’t be too careful. The fewer people know the truth the better.’

‘I don’t think anyone is linking us to the fire at the still, not yet anyway. I get the impression that the other Islay cops weren’t in on the bootlegging thing. Molly seems to reckon they’ll just want it all to go away, so they’re not looking too hard for reasons not to brush it under the carpet.’

‘It can’t be that easy?’

‘It’s not,’ said Adam, shaking his head. ‘Cops are coming from the mainland to look into it. Eric reckons they’ll want to speak to us.’

‘Right.’

‘Oh, a lifeboat and a couple of coastguard boats are sweeping the coast off the Oa, searching for Luke. Remember to look hopeful that they find him.’

‘They’re surely not expecting to find him alive after this time?’

‘No, they’re searching for the body, really. Fingers crossed they don’t find it for a while. Even if they do, hopefully we’ve done enough that forensics won’t twig.’

‘Depends how good a job you made of getting that bullet out.’

‘I got it out fine, OK?’

‘OK, only fucking saying.’

‘Well don’t bother,’ said Adam. ‘You have no idea what I went through when you were out cold back there.’

Roddy looked at his shoulder. ‘I kind of had my own shit to worry about, you know.’

Adam could feel his heart racing and made a conscious effort to calm down. ‘I know. Look, we just have to stay calm and stick to what we said, OK?’

‘Not a problem.’

The door opened and Eric poked his head round. He looked at Roddy. ‘How you doing, son?’

‘Not too bad, considering.’

‘That’s good.’ Eric looked at Adam. ‘Can you follow me please, Mr Strachan? A couple of gentlemen from Strathclyde CID in Glasgow have arrived and want to have a quick word with you.’ He turned back to Roddy. ‘Then they want to speak with you, Mr Hunter, if you’re up to it?’

‘Sure,’ said Roddy.

Adam patted Roddy on his good shoulder and gave him a furtive glance. Roddy smiled and pressed the button for more morphine, sinking further into his bed covers.

‘That is good shit,’ he said to himself as Adam headed out the door.