‘Does she still have the dog?’ Magnus asked.

‘It died when Jack got really ill. Karen was relieved, because she said she couldn’t leave Jack alone to walk it.’

The way grew narrow here, more of a farm track than a road. Magnus could only hope a vehicle didn’t appear coming the other way. Eventually the track did a ninety-degree turn and ran along in front of some houses, then came to a dead end.

There wasn’t a number on any of the cottages, just names, and none of them matched the one that Beth had texted Marge.

‘Maybe we got it wrong,’ Marge said, her voice heavy with disappointment.

‘Or we missed an entrance on our way up here.’ Magnus began to turn the car round. ‘Let’s take another look.’

With the encroaching darkness, the distant castle was now lit up, the golden Great Hall looking like something out of a fairy tale. Retracing their route, Magnus tried to watch both the road and the hedges to either side. Still, he would have missed the entrance had it not been for Marge’s eagle eye.

‘There, just ahead, the sign,’ she said. ‘Rowan Cottage.’

Magnus made an abrupt turn left onto a gorse-lined track, the dark buds just waiting to open.

They trundled on and, like the other route, the track eventually turned left and came to an abrupt halt outside a house. A house which was in darkness, apart from one light to the left of the single-storey building.

‘She’s there,’ Marge said. ‘Thank God.’

Magnus was saying the same thing internally, although at the same time reminding himself that wasn’t necessarily true.

‘What about her car? Is it there?’

There was a carport to the right side of the cottage.

‘It is,’ Marge said in delight. ‘Karen didn’t drive all the time Jack was ill. But she’s back driving now. She comes to the meetings by car.’

Magnus was beginning to allow himself a sigh of relief.

‘Okay, I’ll phone DS McNab before we go in.’

But Marge was already out of the car and heading for the front door as Magnus dialled the number. It rang long enough for Magnus to think McNab had seen his name on the screen and had decided not to answer.

Then, ‘What’s up, Professor, cos I’m about to eat?’

‘It’s Karen Johnston. I’ve found her – or at least the recovery cafe women did.’

There was a moment’s silence, through which Magnus heard music and perhaps a woman’s voice.

‘You found her address or you’ve actually found her?’ McNab eventually said.

‘I’m outside her house now. Marge from the recovery cafe is with me.’

‘Great. Send me the address and ask the lady to get in touch with Police Scotland in the morning and someone will be round.’

He couldn’t blame McNab for not knowing the intricacies of this story, because he’d only recently learned of them himself, so Magnus chose not to try and fill him in. Instead he said, ‘I’ll let you know how I get on.’