“I know a friendly farmer,” Rebus said, giving Arnold Jim Mellon’s name and contact number. “He’s the one who recognized the locus in the first place.”

“Thanks, John—I might get a brownie point or two for that.”

“One favor less I owe you.” Rebus peered through the doorway. The team was restless, impatient for the return of James Page with their instructions. “How long till the media gets wind of it?”

“One of my colleagues is probably blabbing to the local paper as I speak.”

“Bound to happen, I suppose.”

“Will you be back up this way?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I remember that drowning—the one in Loch Ness. Nobody thought anything of it at the time.”

“No reason to. What about Golspie—any memory of that?”

“None. Slap-bang on the A9, though. Do you reckon that’s what they’ll call him: the A9 Killer?”

“I’m just hoping this is the end of it.”

“That depends on us catching him.”

“I suppose it does,” Rebus said.

“Positive news on that front is a chief super called Dempsey will probably head the case at our end.”

“Good, is he?”

“One of the best we’ve seen up here. Not a bloke, though—first name’s Gillian.”

“My mistake.” Rebus watched as Page and Clarke reached the top of the stairs. “I’ve got to go, Gavin.”

“Give me a bell if you hit town. And if I’m in your neck of the woods for a Caley away game…”

“The pies are on me,” Rebus confirmed, following two stern faces into the CID office. It took only seconds for everyone to gather around Page.

“Bottom line,” he began, “Chief’s not entirely convinced by Edderton. As he says, it’s a photo of a photo—that’s been confirmed, by the way. Could have been taken at any time and used merely to throw us off the scent. On the other hand, the A9 connection is too strong to dismiss, and since Pitlochry seems to be getting us nowhere, he’s spoken with Inverness and requested a search of the area where the photo was taken, plus interviews with the locals. Northern Constabulary are already actioning this, but they may be short a few bodies, so we’re going to pitch in. Christine and Ronnie, I want you to go talk to the parents in Golspie and Fort Augustus.”

“Northern are okay with that?” Esson checked.

Page gave a nod of confirmation. “I’ll be headed to Northern Constabulary HQ with Siobhan.” Page sought out DC Ormiston. “Dave, you’ll be running the show here.”

“Understood.”

Rebus caught Clarke’s eye. She hesitated a moment before speaking.

“John has been to Edderton, spoken with people there. Might be useful to have him on the ground with us, at least at the start…”

Page fixed his gaze on Rebus while he made up his mind.

“Fine,” he said.