Sandwiches and bottles of water had appeared from somewhere. They filled the back of a patrol car, its doors wide open so people could help themselves. No hot drinks, though Mellon had offered to see what he could do. The Portakabin contained little more than a table and a couple of chairs. There was an Ordnance Survey map of the area on the table, the whole scene reminding Rebus of that first trip to the roadworks outside Pitlochry. A generator was on its way, so that the structure could have both lighting and heat. Another half-hour or so and the search would be called off for the day. Light was fading—at least thirty minutes earlier than in Edinburgh. Rebus was sipping water when the van arrived. It parked at the rear of the line of vehicles. There was no sign of the officer on clipboard duty. A uniform emerged from the driver’s seat and nodded a greeting towards Rebus. Rebus got a bit closer so he could read the writing on the van’s side.

Grampian Police Canine Unit.

The back had been opened and a cage unlocked. A dappled springer spaniel emerged and began a keen examination of the road surface.

“Long way from home,” Rebus commented.

“Northern doesn’t have anyone like Ruby,” the officer explained.

“You’ve driven here from Aberdeen?”

The man nodded, his attention focused on the dog.

“Left it a bit late.” Rebus studied the sky.

“Ruby’s not using her eyes, though. Means she can work that bit longer. You in charge?”

Rebus shook his head. “DCS Dempsey’s the one you need, but she’s had to head back to Inverness.”

“Maybe I’ll just get started, then.” The dog handler looked like he came from farming stock: plenty of girth and a ruddy face, black hair swept back from his forehead. The gate to the field stood open, and Ruby was itching to explore, but she wasn’t going anywhere until given permission.

“Don’t you need…?”

“What?”

“A bit of cloth or something belonging to the MisPer?”

“That’s not Ruby’s specialty,” the officer said.

“So what is?”

“She’s a cadaver dog.” He gave a signal to the spaniel and she bounded across the field in front of him. One of the search teams was arriving back from the hunt, meager gatherings in their evidence bags. They headed for the Portakabin, so they could record what they’d found and leave the bags on the table. When they went over to the food car, Rebus took a look at their haul. A rusty bottle top, crisp bags and chocolate wrappers, an old paint can, half a brick…

Bits of twine…

A few shredded remains of a carrier bag…

A mouse skeleton…

Some feathers…