“Tell him to expect me tomorrow at the Perth airport.”

“What time?”

“First light,” Gilmont responded coldly.

An elderly couple ambled by, the husband’s gait unsteady. Gilmont forced a smile, one that charmed most people, while he kept the internal blizzard of emotion under tight control until they passed out of hearing. “Lauren?”

“Yes, Professor?”

“I’ll need a thermal viewer.”

If Agent Taylor had entered one of the forests, a thermal viewer would cut significant time from the search.

A sharp intake of breath came over the line. “Umm. Professor.” Lauren hesitated. “It might take a while to locate one, especially if you’re leaving so early in the morning.”

“I need it tomorrow at first light,” he said, using his coolest tone, the one sure to get results. “Make it happen, Lauren. Have it delivered to Drew at the airport.”

She breathed heavily into the mouthpiece. “Yes, sir.”

“Good girl.” Gilmont picked at a piece of jagged wood. “Also, arrange for a video call with those north of Edinburgh. I’ll need their assistance to hunt Agent Taylor.”

“What time?”

“Shall we say 8:00 p.m.? Make sure to update them with the details.”

He rang off and took a seat on the bench in front of him. Lauren was working out splendidly. Initially, he’d had his doubts, but she had secured a permanent place on his team—a benefit for both of them.

The River Tay cut a ribbon of blue through the leafy countryside. Crossing his legs, Gilmont leaned back and took in the town’s whitewashed buildings and memorial fountain. A lovely place.

By tomorrow evening, Agent Elise Taylor would be on her way to his country cottage. Perhaps with Dr. Carlson’s instructions, he could perform Agent Taylor’s non-medicated surgery himself.

Chapter 30

Kneeling on the forest floor, Elise sank her fingers into the thick moss, digging through it to the soil below. Carefully, she pulled it toward herself and uprooted a good-sized piece, then rolled it up like turf sold at local garden shops. Sammy followed her example, going slow at first until he got the right of it. After they gathered a large mound between them, Elise draped it over the shelter.

When she finished, Sammy bent low and peeked inside the A-frame’s dark interior.

“Can we move in now?” Sammy asked, straightening, his voice close to a whine.

Elise noted the blue shadows beneath his eyes, and her heart filled with compassion. “I’d love to say yes, but I’ve still to collect something for us to sleep on.”

He nodded, obviously too tired to argue.

With her sgian dubh, she cut off spruce boughs and formed a thick bed, then covered it with their tarp. Lastly, she draped several inches of matted pine needles mixed judiciously with leaves over the exterior ridgepole to repel any rain that might fall during the night.

Sammy sat down, two furrows between his brows, the animation drained from his body.